$300,000 raised for salon owner accused of "setting up" nutty Nancy Pelosi

The San Francisco hair salon owner that was accused of "setting 
up" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week thanked supporters for 
their "outpouring" of support in a letter on Tuesday. A 
crowdfunding effort for Erica Kious surpassed its $300,000 goal 
on Monday, just six days after it began.

"I wish I could personally thank every person who sent me their 
prayers, words of encouragement and support, especially at a 
time when so many are struggling to make ends meet in their own 
lives," Kious wrote in a letter posted Tuesday by the host of 
the GoFundMe. She thanked her daughters, their "loving dad," and 
her family and friends.

The GoFundMe page claims to be set up by a friend of Kious and 
her family. It states, "At the conclusion of this fundraiser, 
ALL donations will go directly to Erica to pay off any debts 
from the business that she is forced to shut down, expenses to 
relocate and reopen in a new location."

Last week, Pelosi faced criticism after surveillance video 
surfaced of her visit to eSalon on Union Street in San 
Francisco, where she was seen inside without a mask on – which 
violated health guidelines in the city during the coronavirus 
pandemic. Pelosi responded to the video, calling the visit a 
"setup."

Kious denied the claim, while Pelosi's hairstylist backed it. 
The video was widely shared on social media, where Pelosi 
received backlash.

Salons in San Francisco were allowed to start reopening a day 
after Pelosi's visit for outdoor service, according to the 
city's health department. Face masks are always required during 
approved services and more generally required citywide when 
social distancing can't be maintained.

After Pelosi said the salon owed her "an apology for setting 
[me] up," Kious said the accusation was "absolutely false," 
claiming she has had her surveillance cameras for five years and 
adding that Pelosi's stylist is an independent contractor 
renting space in the salon. Kious received support after saying 
she had been getting threats and is thinking of relocating her 
business.

"I am very humbled and grateful to have received such an 
outpouring of kindness, empathy and generosity from people I 
don't even know, and from all walks of life and all sides of the 
political spectrum," she said in the letter. "It's a powerful 
reminder that the common things that bind us all together as 
Americans are far more meaningful and lasting than political and 
ideological differences that get so much attention and focus."

"Today, on Labor Day, we should all focus on celebrating the 
efforts and achievements of hard-working people everywhere," she 
continued. "They deserve our respect and appreciation, and they 
definitely all deserve an opportunity to get back to work safely 
and responsibly. That is all this ever was about."

https://news.yahoo.com/300-000-raised-salon-owner-162908253.html