Photo: Valerie Mosley/News-Leader

Anna Robb and her husband Nathan own a store in Branson, Missouri, called “Dixie Outfitters,” selling Confederate flag merchandise of all kinds. Anna gave an interview to the Springfield News-Leader on Monday to let them know that the Confederate flag is only about heritage and Southern culture, and has “nothing to do with the slavery issue.”

“Our customers are hardworking, red blooded Americans that understand the history of the Confederate flag. They are not haters or anything like that,” she said. “They are proud of their country and proud of what the Confederate flag represents. It has nothing to do with the slavery issue.”

Southern culture, heritage and way of life — that’s what the Confederate symbol represents, Robb said.

Unfortunately for Mrs. Robb, today it came out that she and her husband have very close ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Very close. As in, her husband’s father is the national director. Imagine, if you will, my surprise: Branson Store Owner, Who Said Rebel Flag Doesn’t Represent Racism, Has Ties to KKK.

On Thursday, the News-Leader was alerted by readers that Robb’s husband Nathan, co-owner of the store, once tried to adopt a highway in Arkansas on behalf of the Ku Klux Klan, and that Nathan Robb’s father is Thomas Robb, the national director of the KKK.

[…]

Anna Robb said she and her husband have not spoken to Thomas Robb in years. She denied that she or her husband were ever a part of the KKK, but did say she had attended KKK events in the past.

“I have years ago,” she said. “That was years ago, and that is not even something that comes up anymore.”

[…]

Nathan Robb was not available for comment, Anna Robb said, because he was trying to keep up with orders and merchandise in their warehouse.

Reached by the News-Leader on Thursday, Thomas Robb declined to speak about his relationship with Anna and Nathan Robb, saying it was a “family matter.”