I think I disappointed the Bush transition and put them in a difficult position by not being more forthcoming. I put the Bush transition in a difficult position. Prior to Tuesday, Chavez had said that she didn't know until after the woman had left her suburban Maryland home. In a sign of trouble on Capitol Hill for Chavez, Republican support in the Senate for Chavez before her withdrawal appeared to soften as the immigrant controversy grew. It's a serious issue.
Federal law prohibits hiring illegal immigrants.
On Monday, the Bush team declined to say whether the Guatemalan immigrant had been paid to do household chores for Chavez nearly a decade ago. The day before that, the Bush camp denied Chavez ever employed the woman. While Bush's camp was insisting Chavez didn't know Mercado was in the country illegally, Mercado said just the opposite in an interview. She knew I didn't have my green card. She added that Chavez offered once or twice to help her gain legal status.