TOPLINE
The stylist at the center of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial hair appointment said the speaker was set up by the salon owner who blamed Pelosi for shutting down her business, supporting Pelosi’s defense of the visit widely criticized by Republicans this week.
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KEY FACTS
Soleiman, APC, the firm representing stylist Jonathan DeNardo, said in a statement that e Salon SF owner Erica Kious authorized him to go forward with the appointment even though it violated local health rules prohibiting salons from operating indoors.
It’s unclear if DeNardo knew the appointment violated health orders or if he was mistaken about the rules, as Pelosi’s office says they were told by the salon they were “allowed by the city to have one customer at a time in the business.” (Soleiman, APC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes).
During a phone conversation when the appointment was approved, Kious “made several vitriolic and incendiary comments about Speaker Pelosi and her purported responsibility for temporarily suspending operations of Ms. Kious’ business,” according to the statement.
The law firm representing DeNardo says it has photographs, video footage and witness statements alleging that Kious has herself been violating health orders by operating her business indoors while not wearing a mask since April 2020, despite her admonishment of the visit in an interview with Fox News.
Pelosi on Wednesday defended the visit, saying she didn’t know she did anything wrong, but takes responsibility for falling for a “setup.”
In an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Kious denied she “set up” Pelosi and said she has lost 60% of her clients from the scandal. “Her assistant had made the appointment, so the appointment was already booked, so there was no way I could have set that up,” Kious said.
Crucial quote
“The fact that Ms. Kious is now objecting to Speaker Pelosi’s presence at eSalon, and from a simple surface-level review of Ms. Kious’ political leanings, it appears Ms. Kious is furthering a set-up of Speaker Pelosi for her own vain aspirations. Mr. DeNardo’s name has now been dragged through the mud for simply following Ms. Kious’ recommendations,” the statement reads.
Chief critics
The original story, published by Fox News, has been widely shared in conservative media circles and used by Republicans to call Pelosi a hypocrite. The most-shared post by a U.S. page on Facebook is a Brietbart meme about the scandal, according to New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose.
President Donald Trump weighed in on Thursday, slamming Pelosi for falling for a setup so easily.
“Crazy Nancy Pelosi said she was “set up” by the beauty parlor owner when she improperly had the salon opened (and didn’t wear a MASK!). Does anyone want a Speaker of the House who can be so easily SET UP?” he tweeted.
Key background
Hair salons and barber shops in San Francisco have been closed since March, and were only allowed to reopen for outdoor service this week. Though state orders allow for indoor service, local leaders can enact stricter rules, as San Francisco has done. The personal care industry has pushed back hard against closures, accusing city leaders of jeopardizing the livelihoods of salon owners and workers.
