Officials said that she was reluctant to step aside, even making plans for a news conference featuring immigrants who she had helped establish themselves in the United States. Other contenders whose names surfaced in the days leading to Chavez' selection included former Rep. James Talent, who gave up his House seat last fall to make an unsuccessful run for governor of Missouri, and Rich Bond, a former RNC chairman who served in the administration of Bush's father, former President George Bush. Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer was peppered with questions about Chavez and her one-time guest, Marta Mercado, a day after Bush said he had confidence that Chavez would be confirmed by the Senate. Fleischer declined to say Monday whether Mercado, a Guatemalan immigrant, had been paid to do household chores for Chavez nearly a decade ago. A day earlier, another Bush spokesman denied that Chavez ever employed the woman.
Federal law prohibits hiring illegal immigrants.
And while Bush's camp insisted that Chavez didn't know that Mercado was in the country illegally, Mercado said just the opposite in an interview. She knew that I didn't have my green card. She added that Chavez offered once or twice to help her gain legal status. I cannot tell you how long later. Several Bush aides said that's what Chavez told the president-elect's advisers when she was being considered for the Cabinet.