

A former housekeeper for Meg Whitman claims the Republican governor candidate knew she was an illegal immigrant but continued to employ her, according to her attorney Gloria Allred.

Allred said Whitman caused the worker to "feel exploited, disrespected, humiliated, and emotionally and financially abused." The worker alleges Whitman knew she was here illegally but did not act on it until she decided to run for governor last year.

Whitman attorney Tom Hiltachk told reporters Wednesday: "This person was initially hired by Meg Whitman in November 2000. She filled out standard [Internal Revenue Service] forms and Department of Justice forms and presented her Social Security card and California driver's license. She filled out immigration forms that stated under penalty of perjury that she was a lawful resident."

Read full coverage on the Whitman immigration story throughout the day at PolitiCal, The Times' California politics blog.

Photo: Nicky Diaz Santillan, a former housekeeper for Meg Whitman, breakdown during a press conference at attorney Gloria Allred's office Wednesday. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times