It’s a different ballgame when you are put under oath. Petraeus was not under oath when he gave his “spontaneous eruption” story to Congress back in September. This time I’m sure Congress will swear him in and the consequences for him lying now will be different.
They’re floating out trial balloons to gauge reaction before he picks a story to tell. Whatever Petraeus says is going to be rehearsed, stage managed and parsed by lawyers. It will not be the truth.