Secret Service clears Nugent after interview
(CNN) - The U.S. Secret Service said Thursday that it has resolved any questions regarding rocker Ted Nugent, whom its agents interviewed after he said he would be "dead or in jail" if President Barack Obama were re-elected.
"The issue has been resolved," and the agency "does not anticipate any further action," Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary told CNN after the interview.
Earlier Thursday, Nugent issued a statement of his own, writing, "I met with two fine, professional Secret Service agents in OK today." The musician was in Ardmore, Oklahoma, to perform a concert.
Nugent described the as a "good, solid, professional meeting concluding that I have never made any threats of violence towards anyone. The meeting could not have gone better. I thanked them for their service, we shook hands and went about our business. God bless the good federal agents wherever they may be."
The interview came amid outcry over comments Nugent made at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, which took place in St. Louis, Missouri, this past weekend.
"If Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year," Nugent said, according to a video that the NRA posted on YouTube. "If you can't go home and get everybody in your lives to clean house in this vile, evil, America-hating administration, I don't even know what you're made out of."
The video has since been removed.
Many have questioned whether Nugent was alluding to violence against the president.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, solicited donations from supporters using the comments, calling them "despicable, deplorable and completely beyond the pale."
A U.S. official said Wednesday that Secret Service policy is to acknowledge every American's right to free speech while still determining an individual's intent.
Nugent's comments sparked particular furor because the musician and activist has endorsed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul responded to comments from Nugent on Tuesday, saying "divisive language is offensive no matter what side of the political aisle it comes from."
"Mitt Romney believes everyone needs to be civil," she added.
CNN's Jason Morris, Jessica Yellin, Javi Morgado and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
So...ted, ya gonna follow though with either being dead or in jail when President Obama is reelected in November? My bet is you will flip flop on that one as you are a gutless coward.
Nice backpeddle Ted.
Now let Ted Nugent be understood: He was not interviewed by the Secret Service because of the outrage over the subject, but because of the subject of the outrage. We all know a sum bag like him would be stupid enough to believe the former over the latter.
I am only guessing, but ol' Ted's gonna shut his fat mouth from now on. We put him in his place!
@John in SC, Ted Nugent is not performing at County fairs with Wild Cherry. Nugent is appearing at the Target store opening in Manhattan, Kansas along with the character, "Schulz" from the TV show "Hogan's Heroes". LOL!!!
So this washed up jerk gets all of this free publicity. CNN...you have been HAD...AGAIN.
Yep, because 'dem democrats shur' are evil y'all.
Is this jerk still relevant?
Pretty sure that Nugent was referring to his rights being taken away and not killing someone. If you left wingers are burning your Nugent albums, I will gladly take them. Save the whales, trees, owls, and please don't say anything against Obama!
Make sure they wear condoms Ted! And you probably ought to agree on a price beforehand.
If Ted had said this about Mitt the right would be having a cow and calling for a lynching.
Natalie Maines says they wern't too proud of Bush and the crys for the hypocritical right were deafening and still follow the Chicks.
If he doesn watch his freaking mouth, he might be dead sooner than November.
ted nugent is a rock legend and he is right this admin. is the pits and they need to step down in november! rock on ted......
I shoot him now, he won't have to wait!
Kill Nugent! Re-elect President Obama!
Too many controlled substances.
Well Nugent should chose his words some what better but after all it is freedom of Speech. Just don't threatened to two – bit loser. But it is ok for for the Black Panthers to issue a wanted poster? Well Obozo is a two – bit loser
All nugget needs is a good slap across his foul mouth.
And still no direct admonishment from Romney himself. If it were the other way around, you can bet Romney would be demanding it from Obama.
Sadly, Romney's weak doublestandards are not leadership.
This was a total farce. Nugent is about as big a threat to Obama as Michelle is. But I was relieved to hear that the Secret Service didn't request the interview in Nevada.
Keep endorsing Romney, Ted! And keep talking, too.
way to go ted there are millions of people in this country that are ready to take thier freedom and country back from a bottom feeding goverment
He is an idiot a complete low life moron
righton67
Whether Ted dodged the draft or not is not the issue.
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It is absolutely part of the issue. Teddy has a lot of nerve talking about his love for country.Funny, he didn't love it enough to serve. Not to mention his criminal activity with underage women that he brags about.
Being stupid must be one of the side effects of "cat scratch fever"