On Monday afternoon, Ben Carson took back comments he made earlier in the day about seeing American Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York City.
"Dr. Carson does not stand by the statements that were reported today," his communications director, Doug Watts, said in a statement. "He was hearing and thinking something differently at the time. He does, however, recall and had his mind focused on the celebrations in the Middle East. He is not suggesting that American Muslims were in New Jersey celebrating the fall of the Twin Towers." Watts said that Carson, who said he watched "newsreels" of the celebrations, also apologized to "anybody offended by that."
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