Would you believe: Laura Richardson -- Realtor?

U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson can't plead ignorance as the root of her now-famous real estate woes, which include a foreclosure and unpaid taxes in Sacramento, and defaults in both Long Beach and San Pedro. Turns out Richardson was, at one time in her life, a Realtor. Here's the story from the Press-Telegram:

The congresswoman was permitted to sell property in California from Dec. 16, 1998, to Dec. 15, 2002, state Department of Real Estate records show.

In the late 1990s, Richardson worked for short periods of time at Action Century 21, 3626 E. Pacific Coast Highway, and Prudential California Realty (now Coldwell Banker), 1650 Ximeno Ave., agents at both offices say.

A spokesman for Richardson says she never took part in any real estate transactions.

"Congresswoman Richardson has never utilized the license in any state," says aide William Marshall. "She has never listed or sold any property in any capacity for herself or anyone else."

The reporter couldn't find any records of sales by Richardson, a Long Beach Democrat. When her license expired, Richardson didn't renew it. You can read the full story here.

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: AP

Comments

[Rastadog]

The article does not mention that she also has the most expensive retal car available for her state business. A 2007 Lincoln Town car costing the taxpayers (you and I) $1700.00 per month.

[I'm Having A Bad Dream]

Hey, let's keep things real -- it's $1,300 a month.

They checked mls records to see if she did anything in her name, but if she was involved in commercial property or working on a referral basis, her name would not show up anywhere. When do we find out about the other property she owns? And I've been wondering as well... supposedly she owes about $70,000 to herself for her campaign, and some $300,000+ total. Who does she owe the other $230,000 to? Hollywood Park? Commerce Casino? The Pelosi Family?

[Moral Hazard Drives A Big Wheel]

Did the agents say if she worked there during the day? Supposedly she was working at xerox from 1987 until 2000, during all of the 90's, so if it was during the day one wonders about her claimed 14 year stint at xerox.