Journalist: Sidney Blumenthal Raised Obama Birther Issue in 2008

The former Washington bureau chief of McClatchy Co. claimed on Twitter Friday that longtime Hillary Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal raised the issue of President Barack Obama's birthplace with him in 2008.

Asher is now the Washington editor for Injustice Watch, an investigative nonprofit organization.

Here is his post, which was first reported by Mediaite:

#CNN says #Hillary team in 2008 never raised #Obama's birth in #Kenya. Who is closer to #HRC than #SidBlumenthal, who told me face-to-face.

— James Asher (@jimasher) September 16, 2016

Republican Donald Trump declared Friday that "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period" — and blamed the Clinton camp for raising the issue during the 2008 campaign.

Both Clinton herself and a top campaign official slammed Trump, with the Democratic nominee saying that her opponent will not be able to quiet the issue with a single statement.

"For five years, he has led the birther movement to de-legitimize our first black president," she told an event in Washington. "His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie.

"There is no erasing it in history," she added. "Barack Obama was born in America, plain and simple, and Donald owes him and the American people an apology."

Trump has spent years peddling a racist conspiracy aimed at undermining the first African American president. He can't just take it back.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016

What Trump should do: for once in his life, own up to his mistakes. Apologize to the President, and to the American people.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016

• Sanders: Clinton Must Focus on Issues, Not 'Personality Stuff'
• Elizabeth Warren Slams Trump Over Birther Comments