President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s pick for Commerce secretary on Wednesday admitted to unknowingly employing a possible undocumented worker in his Florida home.

Wilbur Ross told the Senate Commerce Committee during his confirmation hearing that one of roughly 12 workers he employed in his home was unable produce proof of legal status when he checked recently.

Ross said he immediately fired the employee, who had a Social Security card and driver’s license when the worker was hired. Ross said he paid all necessary taxes on the employee.

“When I was getting ready for this hearing, I wanted to recheck all of our present and former employees,” Ross told the panel, insisting he was deceived

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Senators appeared to accept Ross’s explanation. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune John Randolph ThuneThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks Senate GOP eyes early exit MORE (R-S.D.) brought up the hiring of the worker, which Ross first revealed a written questionnaire for the committee.

Ross said in response to questions by Thune and Sen. Bill Nelson Clarence (Bill) William NelsonDemocrats sound alarm on possible election chaos Trump, facing trouble in Florida, goes all in NASA names DC headquarters after agency's first Black female engineer Mary W. Jackson MORE (Fla.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, that he we was duped by the employee and did not willingly hire an undocumented worker.

No other senators asked about the worker.

Hiring undocumented workers has sunk other Cabinet nominations before.

Zoe Baird, President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonD-Day for Trump: September 29 Trump job approval locked at 42 percent: Gallup If Trump doesn't know why he should be president again, how can voters? MORE's first choice for attorney general, dropped out of consideration when it was revealed that she hired undocumented immigrants and did not pay taxes on them.