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California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's campaign is responding to accusations that she subjected to "emotional and financial abuse" her former housekeeper, who was working illegally in the country.
Nicky Diaz, who was Whitman's housekeeper from 2000-2009, claimed in a press conference alongside attorney Gloria Allred that Whitman was aware that she was undocumented and that the Republican candidate fired her only after deciding to run for governor. Diaz also said Whitman failed to pay her on time and did not offer her medical leave during her pregnancy.
Allred said that Whitman ignored a 2003 letter from the Social Security Administration notifying her of discrepancies in the Social Security number that Diaz provided.
Whitman, who has poured millions of her own money into the close race against Democrat former Gov. Jerry Brown, flatly said in a statement that “the charges are without merit.”
Whitman's campaign held a conference call with reporters - though not allowing follow-up questions – before the press conference to address the allegations.
On June 20, 2009, the campaign said, Diaz came to Whitman and confessed that she was not a legal resident of the U.S. and filed false documents. She was then fired by Whitman.
“As required by law, once we learned she was an illegal worker, I immediately terminated Nicky's employment,” Whitman said in a written statement.”It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I considered Nicky a friend and a part of our extended family.”
The campaign also argued that Allred had given Jerry Brown campaigns contributions in 1982 ($1,000) and in 2006 ($150), and said the timing of this complaint -- 34 days until the election -- was curious.
“I believe Nicky is being manipulated by Gloria Allred for political and financial purposes during the last few weeks of a hotly contested election," the statement read.
*** UPDATE *** A CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday showed Whitman trailing Brown 52 percent to 43 percent.
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Meg whitman, does a good job screwing everybody selling and buying on e-bay, if she runs the Government like her business the people of California are screwed. How much is her salary from e-bay to be able to spend so much money for her campaign.
The employee has stated that she is an illegal alian - including being in the possession of forged/fraudulant documents. Why has she not been arrested?
Wow...ignorant much? You must have an extra chromosome or something Karen.
@ Karen in Los Angeles:
You either have a selective memory or (more likely) are blinded by partisan politics. Turns out the Megan Whitman ad featuring Clinton ripping into Brown was factually incorrect; Clinton has even come out and stated he regretted his attack.
As AG, Brown was required by law (something you are quick to rely upon so I know you've heard of the concept) to block Proposition 8 due to its violation of equal protection under the law REGARDLESS what the citizenry of CA voted. There used to be a custom in this country called slavery that was upheld by the majority of the citizenry....would you like that also to be enforced because YOU and a majority of others were in favor of it?? Oh, and BTW, did you notice that Prop 8 has since been found to be unconstitutional by the courts?? Perhaps that might hold a shread of reason for Brown's actions.
You sure are quick to "pick & choose" your facts in support of Megan Whitman, but rest assured, light is the best disinfectant and the more that's shone upon Megan, the more we see the gaping recesses in her personality. The reality is CA has made its greatest strides in education, labor relations, quality of living when guided by Democrats. While I'm not enamored any longer by Brown as I was the first time around, he is HEAD & SHOULDERS beyond Megan Whitman in areas of state politics, labor relations, commerce and compromise.
Lastly, I think its just desserts that Megan Whitman's gold paved road to Sacramento may be derailed by her dealings with a foreign national. After her flip-flopping and pandering on the matter of illegal mass migration, she is now victim to the very subject she tried to have it both ways. Absolutely brilliant!!
As a 50+ native Angelino, I speak from experience and observation, versus out-of-context facts, figures and just plain feelings. You would do well to review your views and then ask for absolution because as it stands, you're just plain wrong.
to Karen in LA:
What makes you think most of the posters here are not from CA? Are you psychic? Earn a living reading palms do you?
according to Karen, "Brown is definitely behind this lawsuit." If so, then it means it is okay to break the law as long as you are caught by the other side? I guess breaking the law is just business as usual for a republican. How odd. And Arnold has done such a good job as govenor we need another republican so baaadly.
So what happens to this housekeeper now ? lets see, first of all she is here illegally, then she falsified her identity by using other people's id's, shouldn't she be arrested now awaiting the court to decide when she gets deported ? If and when she does get deported, what would she say to the people that used her for political reasons ? Just curious how she was mistreated, she was making 23 dollars an hour which is probably more than some with college degrees. Please exercise common sense that maybe, just maybe she was totally happy until someone made her a promise and now she is being used..
If they're rich and have house help, they employee illegals. They know it and if they say they didn't, they're lying through their teeth. In saying that, what politician doesn't lie?
I get this creepy feeling about Whitman. Pierre made the success and the growth of ebay.
I don't know what is the big fuss is about illegals in CA. I lived there for 25 years and it would be hard to tell who is legal and who is not.
The timing is so obvious.
There are many gullibe voters in CA who will fall for the trick and that is why CA is in the doledrums.
The whole thing just doesn't sound right, first off how can a part time worker afford Gloria Allred and why her in the first place, who's paying the bill on that one or is she doing it Pro Bono? I think this is a set up from the Brown committe and if this lady is not thrown in jail for all the fraud she had said she did to get the job I will know the fix is up on this one. Brown represents dirty politics the nth degree he can sling mud with the best of them and personally did not trust him the first time he was in office. Don't give this guy a chance to screw up this state again. I leave in this state and seen him in action the first time. No More Brown.
And the biggest question of all, why know? Why would she tell Ms Whitman right before the election that she is not in this country legally? Hmmmmmmmmmm!
Final stretch of the campaign and now we have Gloria Allred suddenly trotting out yet another of her clients/victims in front of the cameras. The political timing of this in addition to the presence of Allred herself really does produce a bad stench. Politics at lowest level. The "victim" has pawn written all over her.
Are we all forgeting something here, the women is in the country illegally. Get her the hell out of the country. This is classic Jerry Brown. He's counting the millions of people he helped put on welfare when he was governer before to push him over the top. The sad part about this, millions of welfare losers will probably put him back in office and California will suffer under his leadership again. Allerd is a joke also. She sees dollars sign everytime a wetback gets fired by a hard working citizen. She supports illegal aliens and everything they represent. Bye the way Allred, great job making mexican women look weak and stupid.
Meg Whitman - just another GOP fraud. Who woulda thunk it?
Anyone who has bought and sold AND volunteered on eBay boards know very well what a sterling individual the Megster is.
Kiss California goodbye if she wins.
Just look at the "love" she showered upon buyers and sellers during her time in San Jose running eBay.
No phone support. No responsibility for eBay during fraudulant transactions. No cooperation with law enforcement regarding numerous ponzi schemes screwing buyers and sellers out of over 1.5 million dollars.
She never gave a damn about consumers using eBay and she cared even less about sellers. All she wanted was money-money-money.
Hey Megster, those non-disclosures don't save you anymore.
The Democrats have destroyed one of the highest ranking economies in the world! California, which at one time was ranked 4th in global economic powers is now in complete shambles! The states dems, unions, and liberal agendas have truly led to complete disarray.
The democratic party and the left have NOTHING to focus on except a SMEAR campaign! When are we as true Americans gonna wake up and see, smell, and feel their absolute failures and unworthy assualts on American values?
This administration and congress are an ALL TIME JOKE! Unpresidential, unprofefessional, and not functional as whole in the way that America has been known for it's values and the way we conduct business. Help us OB-One Kenobi, you are our only hope! Or, in this case, the republicans and the tea party movement are the ONLY way to save this falling cherry tree...
America, please VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
Jerry Brown is ahead for Governor of California. This is not surprising. It's California, the very birthplace of stupidity. They deserve him.
The Democrats have destroyed one of the highest ranking economies in the world! California, which at one time was ranked 4th in global economic powers is now in complete shambles! The states dems, unions, and liberal agendas have truly led to complete disarray.
The democratic party and the left have NOTHING to focus on except a SMEAR campaign! When are we as true Americans gonna wake up and see, smell, and feel their absolute failures and unworthy assualts on American values?
This administration and congress are an ALL TIME JOKE! Unpresidential, unprofefessional, and not functional as whole in the way that America has been known for it's values and the way we conduct business. Help us OB-One Kenobi, you are our only hope! Or, in this case, the republicans and the tea party movement are the ONLY way to save this falling cherry tree...
America, please VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
This woman is trouble. If California elects her as the next governor they get what they deserve.
Alred is a sensationalist with deep pockets. Those of us from LA are sick of seeing her she is an opportunist on the tails of low life people. Why does an illegial alien get an Alred defense? Why was she crying so much? She is lying for money or told that they will give her citizenship. Cheap and low blow. I'm not saying Meg is my choice, no one running in Cali is a good choice. But it is a typical dirty play by the Brown camp. Alred should retire.
Whitman is none and done, she might as well go home another one for the Democrats!!!
The Republicans seams to be self destructing!!!
Do you have any proof the Brown campaign is behind this? Of course you don't.
I just love all the negative comments from the wing nuts about how horrible California is. That means they won't come here, Thank God!!! From my perspective, it's still a GREAT place to live. I have a nice job and no real financial worries, the weather is beautiful and the pristine coast is spectacular. Please, Republicans - keep listening to the echo chamber and don't come to California.
Looks like the lefties, so-called progressives and just plain freeloaders are breaking into a sweat at the prospects of Meg becoming our next Gov. The lies and deceptions people do offer when they become scared to death that their entitlements and free rides, compliments of a dwindling number of taxpayers, are in jeopardy.
I've lived in Calif all my life - 70-plus years. It was a great place to live until the 90's. No more. Pelosi, Boxer, Geo. Miller, Anna Eschew and a whole cast of liberal doofuses including the SEIU, have turned this state into a refuge for neer-do-wells, street gangs, illegal immigrants and jackasses of every stripeGod help us if we have Dem leadership out here for another 4 years. The city of Bell truly characterizes what this state will become if the good folks don't vote the bastards out . . . . .
leave the liberals out of it. it's Meg v. housekeeper. duh.
Does anyone wonder what she hopes to get out of winning this election? I mean she would never get back all the money she spent unless it's through some major tax changes that benefits Ebay or something and she is paid off for it.
Most of you are to young to remember Jerry Brown who was popularly known as Governor Moonbeam when he was last governor. His ideas were far fetched then but tax and spend is ingrained in his family. Jerrys father Pat Brown was primarily responsible for the largest tax hit in American history. Autos in California used to be taxed when they were sold new, Pat Brown made it so they are taxed every time they are sold. One car may be sold over and over during its life and each time the State of California collects a new sales tax.
frog- Browns far fetched Moonbeam idea was for an emergency response system communications satellite in the late 70's. Do you think its a far fetched idea now?
He ballanced the budget.
He ran for President on a platform that included congressional term limits, balanced budget amendment and developing a green economy to lesson dependency on foreign oil.
That was in 1980.
Sorry that you don't like his fathers sales tax law on used cars that was passed in the 60's
Did I forget to mention that he repeatedly balanced the state budget.
David, I wasn't aware of his accomplishments, term limits, balanced budget, green tech and emergency communications are all laudable and much needed. Perhaps I remember him sleeping on the front lawn of the govs mansion in a sleeping bag. I was annoyed with the sales tax on autos as I bought my first used car in the mid 60's and I was only making $1.65 per hr so the tax hit me as unjust-along with the war in Vietnam and other things. You make a good point
ANOTHER HYPOCRITE REPUBLICAN!
They preach, rant and rave constantly but when they get caught doing what they preach against, well apparently they believe it is just people out to get them? Please.... Meg is just another Repub added to the long list of hypocrites trying to ruin our country and the state of California!
Another illegal breaking our laws!