While federal prosecutors on Tuesday recommended a two-year prison sentence for James Wolfe, a former director of security for the Senate Intelligence Committee who pleaded guilty in October to a charge he lied to the FBI about his contacts with journalists, his former bosses urged the judge to show mercy. 

A letter to the judge from current committee Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina, top Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia, and former chairwoman Dianne Feinstein of California urged no prison time for Wolfe, who was director of security for nearly three decades.

Prosecutors said Wolfe told a reporter in October 2017 that he had served a subpoena to someone related to the investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. He later lied to the FBI about the exchange. Wolfe admitted to making false statements about his interactions with at least four reporters.

Wolfe was indicted on three counts related to making false statements back in June, and pleaded guilty to the one charge in October.

Wolfe was not accused of leaking classified information, but he admitted he did not tell the FBI the truth about the interaction.

The senators said in a letter that there is no “public utility in depriving him of his freedom.”

Todd Ruger contributed to this report.