House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy met with birther activists in 2013
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with activists from the birther movement in his office in 2013, CNN reported Wednesday.
Three members of the birther movement spoke with McCarthy in late 2013 and showed the congressman a video that argued former President Obama is not a natural-born citizen, CNN reported.
Tom Pavich, one of the attendees, lives in McCarthys district and told CNN he had previously raised the issue with the congressman. Pavich recalled McCarthy thanking him for bringing the video to his attention during the 2013 meeting.
Matt Sparks, McCarthys communications director, told CNN that McCarthy meets with constituents whether he agrees with their position or not.
As has been his position from the start, McCarthy has never agreed with claims challenging President Obamas birth certificate, Sparks told the network.
Birther activists push the false conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States, and was therefore ineligible to be president. One of the leading advocates of the birther theory was President Trump, who frequently cast doubt on Obamas birth certificate.
Obama released his long-form birth certificate in 2011, showing he was born in Hawaii.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/369351-mccarthy-met-with-activists-from-birther-movement-in-2013