GOP Rep Fans Birther Flames

At a town hall in North Carolina yesterday, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) told a constituent that he did not know if President Obama was a United States citizen. “ I haven’t seen evidence one way or the other,” said McHenry, adding that the issue is being addressed “in the courts.” In a statement today, McHenry walked back from the “ birther” ledge:

Said McHenry in a statement this morning: “As I stated last night, I have not carefully reviewed the evidence as a jurist would. However, from what I have read, I have absolutely no reason to question President Obama’s citizenship. I anticipate that as a legal matter the courts will continue to come to the same conclusion.”