White House officials and Senate Republicans dismissed rumors that the fast-food chief executive whom Donald Trump tapped to run the Labor Department is on the verge of withdrawing his nomination after revelations that he once hired an illegal alien to work as a housekeeper.
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"Andy Puzder has no intention of withdrawing. He's looking forward to a successful hearing and being the next secretary of labor," White House deputy spokesman Lindsay Walters said, adding that she and other administration officials confer with him regularly about his pending nomination.
The revelation that he hired the illegal alien, which was first reported by The Huffington Post, is the latest development about Puzder, who has faced criticism over reports of wage violations at his restaurants, his views on the minimum wage and his use of ads that critics say are demeaning to women.
In a statement, Puzder said he was unaware of the maid's immigration status when he hired her. When he learned that she was not legally permitted to work in the United States, he "immediately ended her employment and offered her assistance in getting legal status," he said. "We have fully paid back taxes to the IRS and the state of California and submitted all required paperwork," he added.
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According to The Huffington Post, the woman declined the offer for assistance out of concern that it would lead to her deportation.
Puzder -- chief executive of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. -- is facing opposition from congressional Democrats and consumer groups who cite wage violations at the burger chain and stories from employees who allege that they are sometimes asked to work through breaks or are not paid for overtime they've earned.
Puzder's confirmation hearing has been postponed several times because of complications he's faced separating himself from his restaurant business.
The Office of Government Ethics is still reviewing Puzder's financial background, according to administration officials and Senate aides familiar with his nomination. The delays mean that a confirmation hearing for Puzder has yet to be scheduled, but Republicans are preparing to hold his hearing soon, aides said.
Puzder is not the only Cabinet nominee to have a controversy related to a household employee. Trump's pick for commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, disclosed during his confirmation hearing last month that he fired an illegal alien house worker who lied about her immigration status and failed to provide the proper paperwork.
Also, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who was chosen to be the White House budget director, did not pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for one household worker, according to The New York Times.
A Section on 02/08/2017