Dean: Van Jones 'brought down'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Van Jones, U.S. President Barack Obama's former "green jobs czar," was "brought down," former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Sunday.

Jones resigned over the weekend after being criticized for past associations with conspiracy theorists who claim the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the Bush administration. Dean, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," defended Jones, saying his resignation was the result of a Republican Party campaign against him.

"This guy's a Yale-educated lawyer," Dean said. "He's a best-selling author about his specialty. I think he was brought down, and I think it's too bad. Washington's a tough place that way, and I think it's a loss for the country."

Jones had been criticized for signing a 2004 petition alleging some connection between Sept. 11 and the U.S. government. But Dean said he talked to Jones recently and that he indicated he was misled about what he was signing.

"Well, he was told by the people waving those clipboards around that he was signing something else," Dean said. "But I don't think he really thinks the government had anything to do with causing 9/11."