Calif. Congresswoman calls home sale improper

California Rep. Laura Richardson says that her Sacramento home was sold into foreclosure without her knowledge and contrary to an agreement with her lender.

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She says she is like other Americans suffering in the mortgage crisis and wants to testify to Congress about her experience as lawmakers craft a foreclosure-prevention bill.

The congresswoman is speaking out after negative publicity over reports she defaulted on her mortgage, allowing the house to be sold at auction.

Richardson, 46, 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 fen behind in mortgage payments. She says she has renegotiated her loan and promised to pay it off, along with $9,000 in delinquent property taxes.

She insists she's not getting special terms as a congresswoman. "I had to figure out just like every other American how I could restructure the obligations that I had with the income I had," she says.

--Associated Press

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