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Did Petraeus change his story on Libya attack?

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    Claims he knew it was terrorism from start

  • Duration 3:34
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Good evening I'm Chris Wallace in for -- -- Former CI AJ David Petraeus testified before congressional committees today and closed door sessions.

And some top Republicans charge Petraeus has now changed his story about what happened in the September 11 attack on the US mission in Libya.

His testimony now raises even more questions about the Obama administration's account in the days after the assault.

Chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge reports from capitol -- that evening Catherine.

Well thank you Chris the former CIA director is used to coming in the front door today -- reporters apparently using a loading dock to enter the Capitol Hill contracts where he briefed the house and Senate Intelligence Committees.

The former CIA director was pushed to explain why today he said he believed it was terrorism from the start -- on September 14 according to a senior Republican in the house the directors emphasis was on the anti Islam film.

Whose testimony today was that from the start.

He had told us that this was really the terrorist attack of the terrorists involved.

Who sought.

I just -- my question -- different recollection of that.

One Democrat said the disagreements come down to a basic issue.

The more significant question was the element of planning.

And who was responsible.

And that wasn't clear.

To what degree this was planned.

A congressional source familiar with his -- classified testimony tells Fox News that the language in the CIA talking points right after the attack.

Was changed from al-Qaeda affiliated individuals to extremist organizations.

-- some Republican lawmakers say had the effect of minimizing the -- of terrorists in the consulate attack.

The initial public talking points which were put together in an unclassified -- -- at the request of the House Intelligence Committee.

Initially did state that that al-Qaeda affiliated groups.

Were involved.

However by the time that it's and we understand that went through his editing process after it left Langley.

That reference was taken out.

Lawmakers say the CIA talking points went through an inter agency review process including the intelligence agencies as well as -- Justice Department's.

The talking points -- edited but -- -- in the intelligence community including Petraeus could explain who was responsible for the final version.

Senior Democrats -- ambassador rice who appeared on five Sunday talk shows -- five days after the attack was working from the approved unclassified memo.

Thank -- not be greater discrepancy is because the intelligence was.

-- she used the unclassified.

Talking points that were signed off -- by the entire intelligence community.

So criticisms.

About her.

Are completely.

Unwarranted.

The leadership of the Senate Intelligence Committee disagreed over whether ambassador rice in the administration had politicized the CIA talking points.

She went beyond me and she even mentioned it under the leadership of Barack Obama.

We -- decimated al-Qaeda.

Where she needed that morning that I that was very like very responsible.

And hard floor and holes for the -- investors didn't.

I really -- ambassador rice yeah.

A congressional source tells Fox News -- ambassador rice had access to both classified and unclassified information.

And if she could have easily if found that the by September 14.

The FBI based on interviews to determine that there was no protest at the consulate before the attack -- Catherine -- on Capitol Hill.