Whitman's former housekeeper hires celebrity lawyer, calls press conference [Updated]

Attorney Gloria Allred has called an 11 a.m press conference in Los Angeles with her newest client, a former housekeeper for Republican nominee Meg Whitman.

"Ms. Whitman’s former employee will be making what are sure to be controversial and explosive allegations about her former employer," reads a statement from Allred's office. 

Allred claims the former housekeeper will "tell how she suffered as a longtime Latina household employee in Meg Whitman’s home and why she is filing a  claim against Ms. Whitman."

[Updated: 8:28 a.m.] Whitman's campaign released a statement Tuesday blasting Allred. "“With the polls tied, it comes as no surprise that the morning after a successful debate for Meg that the sleaze machine of the political left is now focused on the politics of personal destruction,"said Whitman spokeswoman Andrea Jones Rivera. "Gloria Allred is a shameful manipulator and the timing of today’s news conference so close to the election should serve as a warning to Californians that they are witnessing dirty political smears at their worst.”  

-- Anthony York in Sacramento