US President-elect Mr George W. Bush flies into Washington today where controversy awaits him over the disclosure labour secretary nominee Ms Linda Chavez gave "spending money" to an illegal immigrant who lived with her.
Despite Mr Bush's pledges to be a "uniter" in Washington and to end partisan rancour, the disclosure over Ms Chavez has launched the biggest controversy of his transition.
Democratic senators and labour groups have criticised Ms Chavez over the relationship with the Guatemalan woman, identified by the Washington Postas Ms Marta Mercado.
Spokesmen for Mr Bush said Ms Chavez did not employ Ms Mercado and that Ms Chavez was merely acting out of compassion when she let the woman live in her home for about a year in the early 1990s.
Opposition is also building to his nomination of former Missouri Senator John Ashcroft as attorney general, who is opposed by civil rights groups and their allies in Congress.
Nevertheless Mr Bush yesterday expressed confidence his Cabinet choices would weather any controversy.
"I know there's going to be some withering questions for some of the people that we've nominated for the positions," Mr Bush told reporters. "But I'm convinced all of them will be able to withstand the withering questions."
He said he "firmly" believed Ms Chavez would be a "fine" secretary of labour and that he retained full confidence in her. Reuters