Stylist backs Nancy Pelosi’s salon ‘setup’ claim

• Jonathan DeNardo, the stylist who did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hair in a controversial appointment on Monday, backed her claim that she was “set up” by the salon owner, Erica Kious.
• According to DeNardo, Kious authorized the appointment.
• DeNardo argued that Kious was “furthering a setup” given her “political leanings,” denial of authorizing the appointment, and disapproval of business suspensions during the pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s claim that her salon appointment was a “setup” has been supported by the stylist who did her hair, Jonathan DeNardo.

DeNardo issued a lengthy statement through his attorney late Wednesday, claiming that eSalon’s owner, Erica Kious, had indeed set up the congresswoman.

Footage of Pelosi not wearing a mask while inside the salon had been leaked to Fox News, sparking outrage for ignoring safety precautions and San Francisco’s ban on indoor services.

Meanwhile, Kious has denied accusations of leaking the salon footage to the press for “political” reasons.

Kious argued that it was unfair for Pelosi to come in “comfortably without a mask” while her operations remain shut down. She added that she has since received “multiple hate text messages, death threats,” and that her salon has been overwhelmed with bad reviews.

According to DeNardo’s statement, however, he had asked for and obtained authorization from Kious before going through with Pelosi’s appointment.

DeNardo added that Kious “took special interest in the appointment during this telephone call,” wherein she blamed Pelosi for suspending her business operations.

The suspensions were ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, however, not by Pelosi.

DeNardo, who has worked at eSalon for six years, pointed out that Kious has illegally continued business operations during the pandemic since at least April.

He added that there are pictures and videos showing Kious personally doing clients’ hair while “ignoring social distancing guidelines, and not wearing protective equipment (masks), as recently as a few days prior to Speaker Pelosi’s arrival at eSalon.”

DeNardo added that Kious herself has been “actively encouraging and almost forcing stylists who operate at eSalon to violate such orders for her own financial benefit in the form of receiving lease payments.”

Kious acknowledged on Wednesday that she allows independent stylists to rent the salon chairs, but claimed that she “can’t control” what happens during a rental.

DeNardo’s statement accused Kious of “furthering a setup of Speaker Pelosi for her own vain aspirations,” considering “a simple surface-level review of Ms. Kious’ political leanings” and the fact that she is now expressing disapproval of Pelosi’s appointment when she had already authorized it.

The statement added that DeNardo’s reputation has been negatively impacted by the incident.

Source: New York Post