Janet Napolitano

Napolitano: We'll Look At Whitman's Maid 'Very Seriously' (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | October 7, 2010, 12:51PM

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Bill O'Reilly last night that the federal government hasn't made a decision about whether to investigate if the maid of GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman lied on her employment forms.

But Napolitano did assure O'Reilly's viewers -- at the host's prodding -- that the government "will look at this very seriously."

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CA-GOV

Immigration Lawyer: Whitman Failed To Sign Off On Housekeeper's Immigration Form

Ryan J. Reilly | October 1, 2010, 5:29PM

Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman (R-CA), left, and her former housekeeper Nicky Diaz

California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman could potentially be held responsible for errors on her former housekeeper's I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, an immigration lawyer who has examined the documents tells TPMMuckraker.

"There are definitely violations on the I-9," Greg Siskind told TPMMuckraker. "It's not unusual where we see an I-9 form like this where there's no signature, no dating, that it's an [human resources] person who is afraid of being on the hook for documents that they suspect are bogus."

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Meg Whitman

Whitman's Housekeeper Placement Service: Don't Blame Us!

Ryan J. Reilly | October 1, 2010, 1:08PM

California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman (R) and her former maid, Nicky Diaz.

The placement agency that California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman used to hire Nicky Diaz as a housekeeper back in 2000 has issued a statement to Talking Points Memo, stating that they "did everything that was legally required and followed standard procedures at the time."

Diaz according to records provided by the Whitman campaign, falsely stated that she was able to work in the United States. Town & Country Resources concurred with the Whitman camp that Diaz had been untruthful.

But Diaz and her high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred alleged that Whitman and her husband knew about Diaz's immigration status. Whitman admitted that her husband may have signed off on a letter for the Social Security Administration which said that the Social Security number Diaz provided did not match with her name in their records.

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Meg Whitman

Whitman Says Husband Probably Knew About Maid's Letter From Social Security

Ryan J. Reilly | October 1, 2010, 9:46AM

California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman (R).

California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman told KNX radio in Los Angeles on Thursday that she suspects the handwriting on a letter regarding the Social Security number of her former housekeeper is her husband's.

Late yesterday, Whitman's husband Dr. Griff Harsh said in a statement that he did not recall receiving the letter, but said "it is possible that I would've scratched a follow up note on a letter like this."

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Meg Whitman

Conservative Immigration Group: Arrest Meg Whitman, And Her Housekeeper Too

Ryan J. Reilly | September 30, 2010, 5:32PM

Meg Whitman and Nicky Diaz Santillan

A conservative group against illegal immigration has called for the arrest of Meg Whitman, the GOP's candidate for governor of California, and her former housekeeper Nicky Diaz for breaking immigration laws. The Americans for Legal Immigration PAC said Thursday that Whitman should stand trial and Diaz should be deported.

"It's pretty clear from all parties involved that Whitman did intentionally or unintentionally hire an illegal immigrant for nine years, which is a violation of federal law," William Gheen, president and spokesman of ALIPAC told TPMMuckraker in an interview Thursday.

"To allow Whitman to avoid a trial on this matter would be the same as allowing O.J. Simpson to avoid trial because he said he didn't do it before he was arrested," Gheen said.

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Meg Whitman

Whitman, Former Maid Trade Accusations About What Whitman Knew And When

Ryan J. Reilly | September 30, 2010, 2:57PM

The former housekeeper of California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman charged Wednesday that the former eBay CEO knew her maid was in the country illegally, but continued to employ her and treated her poorly.

Whitman's campaign said that the maid, Nicky Diaz, was being "manipulated" by her high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred for "political and financial purposes," and said the candidate did not know Diaz was in the country illegally.

But Allred said Thursday that she had a copy of a so-called "no-match" letter sent by the Social Security Administration to Whitman back in 2003. That letter, which indicated that Diaz's name did not match with the housekeeper's name, indicates that Whitman knew her housekeeper was not authorized to work, according to Allred.

She planned to release the letter at a press conference at noon Pacific time. The Whitman campaign announced it would preempt Allred with a press conference at 10:30 p.m. PT.

So what do we know so far?

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Meg Whitman

Meg Whitman's Former Housekeeper Alleges Financial And Emotional Abuse

Ryan J. Reilly | September 29, 2010, 3:50PM

A former housekeeper for Meg Whitman, the Republican candidate for governor of California, alleged in a press conference with a high-profile lawyer that she was subject to financial and emotional abuse for the nine years she was employed.

Both sides agree that Whitman fired her housekeeper last June because she was an illegal immigrant, just a few months after Whitman's campaign for governor got underway.

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