CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Attorney Gloria Allred compared the alleged plight of a
undocumented immigrant hired to keep house by California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman to
"don't ask, don't tell" at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Nicky Diaz Santillan was hired by Whitman in 2000 to work as a housekeeper for 15 hours per week. However, Santillan alleges Whitman took advantage of her immigration status by adding more duties and errands to the housework, piling on extra hours that went uncompensated. She also allegedly forced Santillan to find a temporary replacement during her maternity leave. Not doing so would have cost Santillan her job.
In addition to the treatment, Allred said Whitman knowingly employed Santillan despite her being illegally in the United States from Mexico. Allred said she failed to follow up with a letter from the
Department of Social Security in 2003, which should have acted as a red
flag that Santillan was an undocumented worker. Whitman fired Santillan in 2009, just as the former eBay chief was planning to make a run for California governor.
"'Don't ask, don't tell' may have become 'Oh, my God, she will tell if I continue to employ her,'" Allred said.
In June 2009, Santillan said, she asked Whitman to help her obtain legal status to live and work in the country once she realized Whitman was planning to hit the campaign trail. Whitman spoke to her lawyer and later told Santillan, "'We cannot do anything for you,'" Santillan recounted at the press conference. "She said, 'I cannot help you. And don't say anything to my children. I will tell them you already have a new job and that you wanted to go to school. From now on, you don't know me and I don't know you. You never have seen me, and I've never seen you. Do you understand me?'"
Santillan said at the press conference that she is coming forward now because, "I know there are a lot of Megs out there who are mistreating the Nickys out there who work so hard for them." Allred said the claims, which are being filed with state agencies, came up now because Santillan was not aware that she had the right to file such claims and that it had nothing to do with the upcoming election.
Allred refused to show documents proving her statements but said Whitman could easily disprove the claims by showing the correct paperwork.
Whitman fired back in the hours preceding the press conference.
"With the polls tied, it comes as no surprise that the morning after a successful debate for Meg that the sleaze machine of the political left is now focused on the politics of personal destruction," Whitman spokeswoman Andrea Jones Rivera said according to the Los Angeles Times. "Gloria Allred is a shameful manipulator and the timing of today's news conference so close to the election should serve as a warning to Californians that they are witnessing dirty political smears at their worst."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Germany makes it easier to change gender and name on legal documents
April 12 2024 6:06 PM
A youth's call to action on this Day of NO Silence
April 12 2024 5:00 PM
Democrats introduce resolution in support of LGBTQ+ youth
April 12 2024 4:35 PM
Colton Underwood is hoping to create a gay reality TV dating show
April 12 2024 4:28 PM
Idaho closes legislative session with a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ laws
April 12 2024 1:39 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedElevating pet care with TrueBlue’s all-natural ingredients
April 12 2024 1:39 PM
Watch Jimmy Kimmel's hilarious LGBTQ+ campaign video: 'You can't spell Biden without Bi'
April 12 2024 12:00 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedCreating erotic art and advocacy with adult entertainer Cody Silver (EXCLUSIVE)
April 12 2024 11:39 AM
How I navigated through religious trauma
April 12 2024 11:00 AM
Limited gender markers add hurdles for nonbinary people
April 12 2024 9:34 AM
Suspect in killing of Black trans man Righteous Torrence 'TK' Hill identified by police
April 12 2024 9:13 AM