Liberal candidate Maria Manna has resigned after reports that she had called the official account of how the Twin Towers came down on 9-11 a lie.

"After stepping back and reflecting on recent events, I have decided to resign as the Liberal candidate for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford," Manna posted on her Facebook account today. "I fully support Justin Trudeau, the Liberal team, and the real change they are bringing to Canadians. This election is far too important to have my past opinions and comments detract from that goal. I sincerely apologize to those I have offended. I will continue to devote myself to my music and humanitarian work."

In a Times Colonist interview on Friday, Manna explained a Facebook post she made in September 2013.

"So today we remember the tragedy of 911. Today we will talk about who did it and why. Today most people will continue to believe the lie, and again, THEY continue to win. Thank God I know the truth! LOVE is the answer!!!" read the post.

On September 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four airliners, crashed them into the Pentagon, a Pennsylvania field and New York's World Trade Center's north and south towers. Within 1:42 minutes both 110-storey towers collapsed. Nearly 3,000 people, including 26 Canadians, died in the day's attacks.

Specifically, Manna explained she doesn't believe a single plane could have, on its own, taken down an entire building.

On Friday she said she still doesn't know how the New York towers collapsed since she posted her skepticism on Facebook in 2013, but said she's moved on.

"We will never know how those buildings came down," said Manna.

She said she formalized her view after about the terrorist attack after she attended a forum by "architects and engineers" who supported the theory that a single plane alone could not have taken down a tower.

"And then I just said: 'OK. I believe that it wasn't just a plane that went through the building.' And that's my truth, and that's OK, and now we have to move on."

Manna said she firmly believes that 9-11 was a terrorist attack against the United States and that it never entered her mind to consider the conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise.

"I didn't go on thinking who did it, and why did they do it. I just didn't believe that physically it could have happened ... and then I moved on," Manna said.

During this federal election campaign, candidates from all parties have faced varying degrees of scrutiny having to apologize, backtrack or step down over their posts on social media, many from years ago.

Luke Krayenhoff has submitted his paperwork to Elections Canada to represent Cowichan-Malahat-Langford for the federal Liberal Party. That paperwork has been accepted but the party has not yet officially announced him as the candidate.

ceharnett@timescolonist.com

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