The Los Angeles Times has reported that California Congresswoman Jane Harman, a Democratic candidate for governor, hired an illegal nanny in 1989 without any legal basis for hiring her. Harman claimed she thought the English nanny was legal because she was sponsoring the woman for a work visa. However, the 1986 Immigration Act requires an employer to verify that an employee is actually work authorized BEFORE employment is underway.
The Congresswoman initially disclosed information on the nanny in 1993 when Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, President Clinton’s initial choices for Attorney General, lost out on getting the position when it was disclosed that each had hired an illegal nanny. But Harman said at the time that her employment of her nanny was legal. Harman’s aides now say that at the time she believed that the employment was legal. They also disclosed that there was another nanny employed by Harman who also was undocumented. A woman from Ghana worked for Harman before the English nanny, but Harman claims she cannot recall details of the woman’s hiring.
The INS has not stated whether it will further investigate Harman over the matter.
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