Apr 2, 2015

A Republican effort to showcase international support for taking a hard line on Iran has backfired after two German lawmakers denied any involvement.

Reps. Doug Lamborn, R-Col., and Randy Weber, R-Tx., circulated a letter to world leaders last month that they claimed had been signed by four European lawmakers. Since then, two of the alleged supporters, German parliamentarians Johann Wadephul and Roderich Kiesewetter, have informed Al-Monitor that they were not involved.

“This letter never came to the attention of Dr. Wadephul nor Mr. Kiesewetter and therefore has not been signed by them,” a Wadephul spokeswoman told Al-Monitor via email. The parliamentarian followed up with a formal letter stating he had “at no time signed nor agreed to support” the letter.

Asked for an explanation, Lamborn’s office shared a follow-up message it has sent around Capitol Hill that blames the error on a “misunderstanding.” A staffer declined to provide any further answers about how the mix-up happened.

“Clarification: A previous version of the email mentioned that MP Roderich Keisewetter and MP Johann Wadephul are to be signers of the letter,” the message says. “Regrettably, this was a misunderstanding. Mr. Keiswetter and Mr. Wadephul will not be signing this letter.”