Staffer admits Ben Carson had a ‘contract’ with company that pushed bogus cancer and autism cures

Dr. Ben Carson has been under fire for having a prior relationship with Mannatech, a company that claimed to be able to cure cancer and autism. But Carson’s business manager Armstrong Williams claims that Carson was not involved in the negotiating process with the pseudoscience organization.

“Obviously when the Washington Speakers Bureau books you to go and give a speech,” Williams said, “sometimes you may not always know all the details because there are some things that are negotiated that you’re unaware of. Like the script.”

Despite Carson appearing in multiple videos and giving multiple speeches on behalf of Mannatech, Williams’ defense of Carson seems to be that the GOP candidate Carson didn’t knowingly lie, he just did less research on Mannatech before accepting their money than most high school students are expected to do on their term papers.  #Carson2016

However, this defense at least acknowledges Carson’s involvement with Mannatech, At the GOP debate this Wednesday, Carson claimed that the accusation he had any relationship whatsoever with Mannatech is a straight-up lie.

Even the conservative National Review is not impressed.  When Jim Geraghty asked Williams last year about Mannatech, Williams seemed to have no idea that the company had been sued for millions of dollars for false advertising.  That’s a pretty big detail to overlook regarding a company you shilled for.

Williams also argued that Carson didn’t even financially benefit from these videos, so they really shouldn’t be a factor in Carson’s Presidential bid.  Williams explained that Mannatech paid the Speaker’s Bureau for Carson’s speeches, not Carson directly. Apparently because it wasn’t a direct payment, that makes Carson’s involvement with Mannatech okay.

Watch Williams’ interview with CNN below:

[Talking Points Memo] Featured image via screengrab