Obama camp: Didn't know aunt in U.S. illegally
LAS VEGAS — Barack Obama did not know his aunt was living in the United States illegally for the past four years prior to today's Associated Press report, "but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed," the campaign said Saturday in a statement.
The Democratic nominee last heard from Zeituni Onyango, who attended his swearing-in ceremony to the U.S. Senate in 2004 and is a half sister of Obama's late father, two years ago when she called to say she was in Boston, the campaign said. Campaign officials said they did not assist her in getting a tourist visa and doesn't know the details of her stay.
News of Onyango's legal status provided an unwelcome diversion for the Obama campaign during its final push towards Election Day.
Obama did not respond to questions shouted at him by members of the traveling press corps as he exited Caesars Palace Hotel here Saturday morning with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as his side.
Obama met Onyango when he traveled to Africa as an adult, earning a mention in his 1995 memoir "Dreams From My Father," in which he referred to her as "Auntie Zeituni."
The campaign said Obama has seen Onyango several times over the years, including during a second trip to Kenya with his wife, Michelle. Onyango previously traveled to Chicago on a tourist visa at the Obamas' invitation about nine years ago before visiting friends on the East Coast and returning to Kenya, the campaign said.
Senior strategist Robert Gibbs shut down any line of questioning Thursday when news broke about Obama's aunt, telling reporters, "I'm not going to get into it."
Rep0orters asked, "why not?"
"I'm just not," Gibbs said.
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Obama camp: Didn't know aunt in U.S. illegally
By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 11/1/08 12:42 PM EDT
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