Van Jones, Obama's Green Jobs Advisor, Under Fire for '9/11 Truther' Past

Anthony "Van" Jones, a special advisor for green jobs to the Obama administration, has come under fire for his participation with the "9/11 Truth" movement, which promotes the notion that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were an inside job by the U.S. government. Jones was on the organizing committee for a 2002 "truth" march in San Francisco, and was one of 100 notable signatories of a "9/11 Truth Statement," calling for an investigation into the terrorist attacks.

After sustained attacks from conservative talk show personalities, including Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity of Fox News, Jones issued an apology for his past remarks, saying that his involvement with 9/11 conspiracy theories "does not reflect my views now or ever." An administration official said that Jones did not carefully review the wording of the statement before signing it.

Reporters asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs how President Obama could denounce conspiracy theories about his birth certificate while employing someone who previously charged the U.S. government with the death of thousands of Americans. Gibbs responded that Obama rejects conspiracy theories about September 11, and would not answer in the affirmative that Jones has the confidence of the president.

For details:

White House Declines to Say Van Jones Enjoys 'Confidence of the President' [ABC News]

Van Jones' 9/11 Truther Past Raises Questions about Obama's Czars [Fox News]