(CNN) – American Crossroads, the conservative super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove, apologized on Twitter Monday after using the social messaging site to suggest Commerce Secretary John Bryson was intoxicated when he was involved in a weekend traffic accident outside Los Angeles.
A Commerce Department spokeswoman said Monday Bryson had suffered a seizure.
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Originally the group tweeted, "How does @CommerceSec have 3 car crashes in 5 minutes and alcohol NOT be involved? #Skills."
The tweet does not currently appear on the group's page, but a screengrab captured by ABC News indicates the message was originally posted at 8:02 a.m. Monday.
A follow-up message posted at 9:11 a.m. reads: "Earlier Bryson tweet with hashtag #skills attempted levity (before facts known) and failed miserably. We took it down and regret the tweet."
Bryson was issued a citation at an area hospital after sustaining minor injuries in the Saturday accidents. Authorities must still decide whether to formally file any charges.
A preliminary alcohol screening of Bryson was negative, a spokesman for the San Gabriel, California, police department said, and results from a blood alcohol test were pending.
The Commerce Department indicated Monday the secretary had suffered a seizure.
"Secretary Bryson was involved in a traffic accident in Los Angeles over the weekend," said a statement by Commerce Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Friedman. "He suffered a seizure. He was taken to the hospital for examination and remained overnight for observation. He was released and has returned to Washington. The investigation is ongoing."
According to a Commerce official, Bryson was on personal time with no security detail when the accidents occurred and was driving his own vehicle. The official, who spoke to CNN on condition of not being identified, said Bryson was given medication to treat the seizure.
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Sorry. This is not a seizure. He had a conversation with people and reentered the car. Hit and run is not a seizure. He wouldn't have been allowed on an airplane immediately after.
And the truth will be revealed. I'm talking about the truth about Cross Road and Karl Rove. The Big Republican Machine of Lies.
Starting with the bishop from Kolob the teapublikkkans wouldn't know a joke if it hit them in the face. It was reported early on that Bryson was not drunk but now that I sdd that rove is behind the group enough said!
Kinda bizarre what passes for "levity" these days.
This is the Republican problem they comment before "(before facts known) and failed miserably". Rove need to retire to Florida.
Are you a Dr. Karen? Cause I've had plenty of seizures...and I can function completely normally within 2 minutes of them being over.
Karen
Sorry. This is not a seizure. He had a conversation with people and reentered the car.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Were you there and witnessed the accident & aftermath, or are you just spouting faux BS?
They should have put a hashtag on the second statement #notintendedasafactualstatement.
....and Rove too?
Karl Rove and his American Crossroads always remind me of George Bush and his economic recession.
It's half-time America. Together we must climb out of this hole.
They always spout off to Dems...rush to judgement...well pot meet kettle.
As a person with epilepsy, I do not drive. In Massachusetts you can go for so many years without a seizure, you can drive. For just this very reason, I could unexpectedly have a seizure, I made the decision that I could not live with myself should I drive, have a seizure, and seriously injure or kill another human being.
I hope for Mr. Bryson's sake that they do an EEG and that if he has a tendency to have seizures, that he turn his liscence in voluntarily.
Karl Rove needs to be involved in a hit and run, somebody needs to hit him and run!
This guy rove always playing politics! If they wouldn't have reposted a comment saying this is not true that he was drunk people would believe him! He's good at character assassination like he does President Obama!
No surprise that "Bush's brain" overstepped again. As for Dr Karen.....good diagnosis. Now go back to Faux News and soak up the propaganda, drone
which only shows that conservatives should not try to be funny, just be made fun of!
If he's having this many seizures he needs to be thoroughly checked out (if he doesn't already know what the problem is). But he certainly should NOT be driving and endangering others with this type of problem. Any type of levity about these sorts of things is not appropriate. Whoever sent out that initial tweet needs to grow up and not be a "twit".
This is what happens when your sole purpose is to make someone else look bad. And we all know somehow THIS TOO would be President Obama's fault. People should find out facts before slandering others. Yeah right, that's all the GOP/baggers do. Facts, we don't need no stinking facts!
OBAMA 2012!
Every time I see a picture of rove I go straight to him in a convertable caddy in a white suit and stetson. Always sceeming something. trying to get over on somebody or in most his cases, EVERYBODY.
The initial joke attempt was not funny. The apology is weak. They do not wish anyone a recovery. They have no concern for the individuals involved – they only regret the tweet.
Seriously??
who in their right mind pays any attention to Rove or his ignorant PAC anyway?
Karl Rove is a pathetic excuse for a human being!!!!
Hilarity from the man who brought you the Iraq war and an economic depression! Stay classy GOP!
karl rove the poster child for lies, inuendo and evil.
Target = mouth .... Foot goes into target.
These clowns are so quick to judge without knowing any facts it truly disgusts me.
They didn't bother to get the facts, did they? There seems to be an automatic assumption that there was something wrong and drugs and alcholol involved. That sounds like they are hateful people.
Karen, what are you talking about. It is my understanding he was found unconscious and was taken t the hospital and stayed the night for observation. Are you aware of facts the rest of us are not? Do tell.