Harry Reid aide gone amid news report of fake marriage

Oskar Garcia
Associated Press
via The Reno Gazette-Journal
10/25/2010

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A spokesman for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Reid’s Hispanic press secretary in Nevada is no longer with the office amid a news report accusing her of a fake marriage to help a man evade immigration laws.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley said in a statement Monday night that the conduct allegedly committed by Diana Tejada was “clearly wrong.”

But he called the Fox News report a “desperation measure” by Republicans trying to gain an advantage in a tight Senate campaign.

Reid is seeking a fifth term against GOP challenger Sharron Angle. Polls show the race about even.

Reached by The Associated Press, Reid’s campaign spokesman referred to Manley’s statement but declined further comment.

The Fox News report says the 28-year-old Tejada lied to authorities to cover up her marriage to 37-year-old Bassam Mahmoud Tarhini. But the report says Tejada was never charged with a crime.

Via FoxNews.com: Aide to Harry Reid Lied to Feds, Submitted False Documents About Sham Marriage

An aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid repeatedly lied to federal immigration and FBI agents and submitted false federal documents to the Department of Homeland Security to cover up her illegal seven-year marriage to a Lebanese national who was the subject of an Oklahoma City Joint Terror Task Force investigation, FoxNews.com has learned…

…According to interviews and court records obtained by FoxNews.com, Tejada knowingly filed false documents with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services; lied in in-person interviews with ICE and FBI agents; and submitted fraudulent visa application affidavits and marriage license documents — all in attempt to use her status as an American citizen to get Tarhini permanent residency.

As a result of her actions, according to court documents, Tarhini was able to obtain a work permit.

“I don’t honestly know the reason why they chose to prosecute Bassam and not her,” said Jeffrey Byers, Tarhini’s criminal attorney….

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