Van Jones Explains 9/11 Petition In One Of His First Post-White House Interviews (VIDEO)

Van Jones, President Obama's former "Green Jobs Czar," spoke to Tavis Smiley in one of his first public interviews since his resignation last year.

Jones told Smiley he never signed the "truther" petition that was the catalyst downfall. The activist and author told Smiley about his "tough lesson":

Van Jones:... I believe that 9/11 was a conspiracy by Al-Qaida and Osama Bin Laden, and nobody else, trying to hurt America. What happened to me on that tough lesson learned for me, six years ago, I was at a conference, some people came up to me. They said, 'Hey, we represent 9-11 families.' I'm like, 'OK, good to meet you.' They said, 'We need your help. Will you help us?' I said, 'Sure, whatever you want.'

On friday, Tavis Smiley schooled Bill Maher and guests on the depth and harder truth-telling nature of Martin Luther King Jr.'s messages. He reminded the panel that King spoke about God's judgment on America, American arrogance and also made the claim that his own government was the "greatest purveyor of violence in the world today." He finished up his train of thought by saying that "part of being a patriot means to stand as a truthteller and say what needs to be said." Amen Tavis!

Bill Maher, who apparently has never heard of William Pepper and the jury that, less than a decade ago, found elements of the US government guilty of a conspiracy to murder MLK, couldn't believe that Smiley was actually saying that "they" killed him.