Holder says decision on Petraeus to come from 'highest level'

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder isn't saying whether he still will be on the job when the time comes to decide whether to bring charges in the investigation of former CIA director David Petraeus.

Holder, in several television news interviews on Sunday, steered clear of commenting directly on the investigation.

But he told CBS's Face the Nation that he expects that "a matter of this magnitude" would be decided "at the highest level" of the department.

Holder has announced he's stepping down as attorney general. President Barack Obama has nominated a federal prosecutor, Loretta Lynch, who awaits Senate hearings.

Federal investigators have been looking into whether Petraeus improperly shared classified materials with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. He admitted having an affair with her when he resigned from the CIA in 2012.

Holder said on ABC's This Week that "any investigation that is ongoing will be done in a fair and an appropriate way."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the former head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, urged the government to take a pass.

"This man has suffered enough, in my view," Feinstein, D-Calif., told CNN's State of the Union. "He's the four-star general of our generation."

"He made a mistake," she said. "He lost his job as CIA director … . I mean, how much do you want to punish somebody?"

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also appearing on CNN, said the case has been mishandled, but stopped short of weighing in on whether Petraeus should be indicted.