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The injury he speaks of, according to TMZ, is he claims to have thrown his back out a few weeks into deployment and was sent home.
An "America's Got Talent" contestant under fire for lying about his military injuries apologized today, saying he didn't realize he was lying.
"It's the truth that I truly think is real, and that's a horrible thing because I don't know," Sgt. Timothy Poe told ABC affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas before he broke down in tears.
Earlier this week, Poe won the audience's hearts when he told them a story about a brain injury he received in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
"My career was ended in 2009," he said. "I had got hit by a grenade in Afghanistan, and it broke my back and gave me a brain injury, and so that's why I stutter a little bit."
By the time he finished singing a stutter-free rendition of Garth Brooks's "If Tomorrow Never Comes," the audience was in tears.
PHOTO: Timothy Poe has been accused of exaggerating his military history on 'America's Got Talent.'
ABC News
Timothy Poe has been accused of exaggerating... View Full Size
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"Everything about you is amazing," said Howie Mandel, one of the show's judges.
Poe received standing ovations, but in the days since he has come under increasing criticism, after the National Guard confirmed there was no record of Poe being injured by a grenade. He served only one month in Afghanistan.
"I was blown away that I was totally taken in," Mandel told TMZ on Friday. "I'm really angry with the guy."
Late Friday night, Defenders of Freedom, a charity for wounded veterans that claims to have helped Poe financially, released an audio of him speaking without a stutter.
"I believe he's a liar," Defenders of Freedom's founder Donna Cranston said.
Poe apologized to Cranston in his WFAA interview. He released a military document that shows he suffers from an injury or disease received in the line of duty, explaining that's what makes it difficult for him to keep his history straight.
"I don't feel like I've lied," Poe told WFAA. "That's what's driving me crazy ... because I truly thought things have happened to me."
It's unclear whether Poe will be edited out of the Las Vegas episode altogether, but TMZ reports that the producers will be editing his appearance somewhat.
An "America's Got Talent" contestant under fire for lying about his military injuries apologized today, saying he didn't realize he was lying.
"It's the truth that I truly think is real, and that's a horrible thing because I don't know," Sgt. Timothy Poe told ABC affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas before he broke down in tears.
Earlier this week, Poe won the audience's hearts when he told them a story about a brain injury he received in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
"My career was ended in 2009," he said. "I had got hit by a grenade in Afghanistan, and it broke my back and gave me a brain injury, and so that's why I stutter a little bit."
By the time he finished singing a stutter-free rendition of Garth Brooks's "If Tomorrow Never Comes," the audience was in tears.
PHOTO: Timothy Poe has been accused of exaggerating his military history on 'America's Got Talent.'
ABC News
Timothy Poe has been accused of exaggerating... View Full Size
Lindsay Lohan's Car Collides with Big Rig. Watch Video
Regina Spektor Talks About Growing Up Poor Watch Video
Lindsay Lohan in Hospital After Crashing Porsche Watch Video
"Everything about you is amazing," said Howie Mandel, one of the show's judges.
Poe received standing ovations, but in the days since he has come under increasing criticism, after the National Guard confirmed there was no record of Poe being injured by a grenade. He served only one month in Afghanistan.
"I was blown away that I was totally taken in," Mandel told TMZ on Friday. "I'm really angry with the guy."
Late Friday night, Defenders of Freedom, a charity for wounded veterans that claims to have helped Poe financially, released an audio of him speaking without a stutter.
"I believe he's a liar," Defenders of Freedom's founder Donna Cranston said.
Poe apologized to Cranston in his WFAA interview. He released a military document that shows he suffers from an injury or disease received in the line of duty, explaining that's what makes it difficult for him to keep his history straight.
"I don't feel like I've lied," Poe told WFAA. "That's what's driving me crazy ... because I truly thought things have happened to me."
It's unclear whether Poe will be edited out of the Las Vegas episode altogether, but TMZ reports that the producers will be editing his appearance somewhat.
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