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Meg Whitman Knew Employee Was Undocumented, Former Housekeeper Alleges
Just a day after last night's gubernatorial debate between Attorney General Jerry Brown and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has real drama begun. This morning high-profile attorney Gloria Allred held a press conference where Whitman's former housekeeper Nicky Diaz alleged mistreatment from the candidate, who knew said Whitman also knew that she was undocumented.
But before Allred's press conference, Whitman's campaign went on the offensive a half hour prior. Calling it a "post debate smoke bomb," officials said Diaz worked for the family starting in 2000 after finding her through a placement agency. In June of 2009, when they learned she had falsified documents to gain employment, her job was terminated.
Allred, however, alleged Whitman knew about Diaz's status and also failed to pay her for hours worked and miles driven. She called the termination politically motivated.
Campaign spokesperson Rob Stutzman said the timing and Allred's connection to Whitman-opponent Jerry Brown was curious. Allred has donated to two of Brown's past campaigns -- $1,000 in 1982 and $150 in 2006 -- and has publicly stated she knows him personally. "It's important that the campaign get back to real issues," he said.
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