WASHINGTON - California Rep. Laura Richardson claimed Friday that her Sacramento, Calif., home was sold into foreclosure without her knowledge and contrary to an agreement with her lender.
She said she is like any other American suffering in the mortgage crisis and wants to testify to Congress about her experience as lawmakers craft a foreclosure-prevention bill.
In a lengthy interview Friday night with The Associated Press, the Southern California Democrat struck back against several days of negative publicity over reports she defaulted on her mortgage, allowing the house to be sold at auction.
Richardson, who won her seat in a special election last August, acknowledged turmoil in her life in the months after incumbent Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald’s death in April opened up her Los Angeles-area House seat.
Richardson used her money to finance her campaign and fell behind in mortgage payments. But now, Richardson said, she has renegotiated her loan and promised to fully pay it off, along with $9,000 in delinquent property taxes.
She insisted she’s not getting special terms because…
