WASHINGTON – The White House is taking a mostly tight-lipped stance on an environmental adviser who made inflammatory statements in the past and is linked to efforts suggesting a governmental role in the 2001 terror attacks.
Van Jones, an administration official specializing in environmentally friendly "green jobs," issued a statement of apology on Thursday. When asked on Friday whether President Barack Obama still had confidence in him, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones "continues to work in the administration."
Gibbs then referred to Jones' own statement.
The matter surfaced after news reports of a derogatory comment Jones had made in the past about Republicans, and separately, of Jones' name appearing on a petition connected to the events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. That 2004 petition had asked for congressional hearings and other investigations into whether high-level government officers had allowed the Sept. 11 attacks to occur.
Jones flatly said in his statement that he did not agree with the petition's stand and that "it certainly does not reflect my views, now or ever."
As for his other comments he made before joining Obama's team, Jones said: "If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."
They are circling the wagons folks. Further proof that the Obama administration agrees with this guys point of view. After all if there were any doubts, Van Jones would not have been appointed to the position he is currently in. I wonder how it would have been spun if Van Jones would have had to go through the Senate confirmation process that Obama's cabinet had to go through?
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