Even Michele Bachmann's former campaign manager thought her comments claiming a Clinton aide might have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood were a low blow. But that hasn't stopped the congresswoman and former presidential hopeful from sticking to her story.
In a statement, Bachmann said that the content of letters she and conservative colleagues last week sent to several national agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Department of State and Department of Defense, was "being distorted."
"I encourage everyone, including media outlets, to read them in their entirety," she wrote.
The original letters claimed that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's aide of more than 15 years, Huma Abedin, may have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Abedin, who is Muslim, is of Pakistani descent and serves as the deputy chief of staff for Clinton.
Edward Rollins, Bachmann's former campaign manager, wrote in an opinion piece on the Fox News website that Bachmann's comments are "outrageous and false." He added, "I am fully aware that she sometimes has difficulty with her facts, but this is downright vicious and reaches the late Senator Joe McCarthy level."
Senators John McCain and Scott Brown also denounced Bachmann's comments.
“These allegations about Huma and the report from which they are drawn are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant," McCain said.
See more of McCain's comments on the Senate floor in the video below:
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?