Rahm Emanuel on David Petraeus: ‘One action does not define a lifetime of service’
BY JON SEIDEL Staff Reporter jseidel@suntimes.com November 12, 2012 4:28PM
Updated: December 14, 2012 6:20AM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said former CIA Director David Petraeus can “hold his head up high” for the way he’s served his country, despite having abruptly resigned Friday after admitting an affair.
Emanuel, a former congressman who served in the White House under Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, told reporters during an unrelated news conference Monday that he didn’t always agree with Petraeus on policy, but he has a tremendous amount of respect for the retired four-star general.
“One action does not define a lifetime of service,” Emanuel said. “You are judged by the entirety of your work in your life, and David Petraeus has served his country not only admirably but selflessly.”
The mayor said he has his own “personal view” about whether Petraeus should have resigned from his post, but he declined to share that opinion.
“That’s something a president decides, not me,” Emanuel said. “I’m a mayor of the city of Chicago.” Jon Seidel
