FBI Director James Comey on Thursday rejected the argument from Republicans that the mishandling of classified information by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE was worse than the abuses committed by former CIA Director David Petraeus.

Despite “great carelessness,” Clinton never gave off signs that she intentionally violated the law through the use of a series of email servers housed in the basement of her New York home, Comey testified before the House Oversight Committee.

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But Petraeus clearly did show evidence of intentionally violating the law, Comey said.

Not only was Petraeus caught on tape telling his mistress and biographer that there was “code word stuff” in the "highly classified" material he slipped to her, the retired general also lied about a cache of classified material he had hidden in his desk, Comey said, comprising obstruction of justice and further evidence that he “knew what he was doing was a violation of the law.”

Comey originally said that Petraeus’s notebook was hidden the insulation in his attic, but he later corrected himself.

"We found [the classified materials] in a search warrant hidden under the insulation in his attic, and then he lied to us about it during the investigation."

“That is the perfect illustration of the kind of cases that get prosecuted,” Comey said. “In my mind, it illustrates perfectly the distinction between this case.”

Petraeus was charged with misdemeanor crimes but not with obstruction of justice, in what has been described as Justice Department prosecutors’ overruling of FBI officials' push for felony charges. Legal experts have pointed to the former CIA director’s example as a lowering of the bar for criminal charges for mishandling classified information.

Comey’s claims were a rebuttal to allegations from presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE and other Republicans that Clinton got off scot-free, while Petraeus suffered the heavy hand of justice.

“General Petraeus got in trouble for far less,” Trump said on Twitter this week, after Comey announced that he would not recommend charges against Clinton. “Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment.”

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) suggested that “Gen. David Petraeus is due an apology.”

Before the Oversight Committee on Thursday, Comey maintained that evidence of intent was a crucial question in deciding whether or not to recommend charges be filed against Clinton.

While there is a law banning “gross negligence” that leads to the mishandling of classified information, it has only been used once in 100 years, Comey said.

“No reasonable prosecutor would bring the second case in 100 years focused on gross negligence,” Comey told the House panel.