David Petraeus Testifies in Closed Door Benghazi Hearing

washington, where all eyes were trained on a closed door on capitol hill. And the star witness inside, the embattled former cia director, david petraeus. He spoke briefly of the affair that ended his... See More

washington, where all eyes were trained on a closed door on capitol hill. And the star witness inside, the embattled former cia director, david petraeus. He spoke briefly of the affair that ended his career, but the main topic, that attack on the u.S. Consulate in benghazi. And abc's jonathan karl has the drama today. Reporter: This afternoon, the first glimpse of david petraeus since he resigned as cia director. Earlier, behind closed doors, petraeus began by expressing regret for the affair that ended his career. Other than that ten-second apology, the hearings focused entirely on the attack on the u.S. Kons late in benghazi, inla. Petraeus told the intelligence committee that he knew from the beginning that the attack was the work of terrorists, not protesters. He thought all along, he made it clear, that there was significant terrorist involvement. Reporter: But that's not what the white house was saying, including u.S. Ambassador to the u.N., Susan rice, who went on television days after the attack, tying it to protests in egypt against an anti-muslim video. But petraeus also told lawmakers that by the time declassified talking points were given to the white house and congress, r references to al qaeda were edited out to protect classified source. What rice said on tv was consistent with those edited and declassified talking points. What is very clear is that ambassador rice used the talking points that the intelligence committee had all signed off on. That is very, very clear. Reporter: The white house says that the intelligence community did the editing and a senior u.S. Intelligence official tells abc news tonight that there was no political interference whatsoever. But as you can imagine, diane, some republicans on cap titol hill say they are not convinced.