“The national committee of the College Republicans went into damage control mode Friday afternoon after a college-aged McCain volunteer confessed to fabricating her claim that a black assailant had carved a “B” into her face after mugging her.

“When Ms. Todd initially contacted us claiming to have been attacked, our first reaction was obviously to be concerned for her safety,” said College Republicans communications director Ashley Barbera. “We are as upset as anyone to learn of her deceit. Ashley must take full responsibility for her actions.”

On Thursday, the conservative website Hot Air described discussions with both Charlie Smith and Ethan Eilon, the National Chair and Executive Director of the group, in which both attested to the validity of the widely distributed photo of an injured Todd, and affirmed that the image came from her.

Eilon had also told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday that Todd “was one of our better recruiters this year.”"