UPDATE: KOMEN CONFIRMS CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT OF ARI FLEISCHER ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD STRATEGY

Yesterday, ThinkProgress exclusively reported Ari Fleischer’s involvement — dating back at least to December — with the Komen Foundation, including issues related to Planned Parenthood. Tonight, the Washington Post reports that Komen is now publicly confirming that Fleischer, a prominent right-wing pundit and former press secretary for George W. Bush, will help “on crisis communications” related to Planned Parenthood. Komen stressed that Fleischer, who is a long-time critic of Planned Parenthood, “had nothing to do with the funding decision.”

UPDATE

The Washington Post updated their story with the following: “Fleischer said Saturday night that he had not been asked but that if he could help, perhaps he would.” Separately, Fleischer confirmed to ThinkProgress that he is in regular contact with Komen CEO Nancy Brinker and she had sought his counsel on the Planned Parenthood issue.