Michele Bachmann Withdraws Swiss Citizenship: 'I'm A Proud American Citizen'

Rep. Michele Bachmann announced Thursday that she is renouncing her dual Swiss citizenship, only a day after news broke that the former Republican presidential hopeful had received citizenship from the European nation through her husband, Marcus Bachmann.

The issue of her citizenship generated a flurry of news stories, many of which touched upon the congresswoman's predilection for taking shots at European culture and policies during her presidential campaign. Among conservatives, news of her citizenship in a country that has embraced gay marriage and has a popular Social Democratic Party appeared to go against the Tea Party platform that launched her into the national spotlight.

In a statement released Thursday, Bachmann seemed acutely aware that some might question her patriotism as a result of her Swiss connection.

Today I sent a letter to the Swiss Consulate requesting withdrawal of my dual Swiss citizenship, which was conferred upon me by operation of Swiss law when I married my husband in 1978, reads the statement. I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 percent committed to our United States Constitution and the United States of America.

In a previous statement, Bachmann spokeswoman Beck Rogeness said the Minnesota representative -- who is up for re-election this November -- initially accepted Swiss citizenship at the behest of her children, who wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual citizenship. In an interview with Swiss TV on Tuesday, Bachmann said her family has often vacationed in Switzerland.