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...