Obama Adviser Van Jones Resigns Amid Controversy

Obama environmental adviser Van Jones is resigning amid controversy over past inflammatory statements. The so-called green jobs czar got into hot water this week when two things surfaced: He called Republicans "assholes" in a video made before he joined the administration, and he signed a petition supporting the "truther" movement, which alleges that the Bush administration allowed the 9/11 attacks to happen.

"On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones said in his resignation statement. "They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide." Jones said that supporters urged him to "stay and fight," but that he can't in good conscience be such a distraction to the administration. Earlier this week, he apologized for the insult to Republicans and denied ever supporting the 9/11 accusations.
(More Van Jones stories.)