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Bachmann withdraws Swiss citizenship

Republican presidential hopeful Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) talks to reporters at a news conference on January 4, 2012 in West Des Moines, Iowa. After finishing second to last in the Iowa Caucus, Bachmann announced she is dropping out of the race. UPI/Brian Kersey
Republican presidential hopeful Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) talks to reporters at a news conference on January 4, 2012 in West Des Moines, Iowa. After finishing second to last in the Iowa Caucus, Bachmann announced she is dropping out of the race. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said Thursday she has asked Switzerland to withdraw her dual citizenship "to make it perfectly clear" she is an American.

Bachmann had confirmed this week she had been granted dual citizenship in March.

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"Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent, so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978. However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family," Bachmann spokeswoman Becky Rogness said.

The Bachmanns' three youngest children acquired Swiss citizenship automatically, while the two oldest children can apply for it on a fast track.

Bachmann announced Thursday she has sent a letter to the Swiss government requesting her citizenship be withdrawn, Politico reported.

"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 percent committed to our United States Constitution and the United States of America," she said. "As the daughter of an Air Force veteran, stepdaughter of an Army veteran and sister of a Navy veteran, I am proud of my allegiance to the greatest nation the world has ever known."

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Bachmann's claim Wednesday that she had held dual citizenship since 1978, raised questions about why she did not disclose that when she ran for the Republican presidential nomination, Politico said.

"It wasn't necessary to disclose, because she is an American citizen and always has been," Rogness said. "She has a United States birth certificate and a United States passport."

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