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Longoria Leads Obama Inaugural Committee

Eva Longoria / AP
December 7, 2012

Politico reported on Thursday that Eva Longoria will co-chair the 2013 inauguration committee along with former Ambassador to Sweden Matthew Barzun, Democratic National Committee National Finance Chair Jane Stetson, and technology entrepreneur and Obama bundler Frank White.

"Vice President Biden and I are grateful to these distinguished women and men for agreeing to serve as co-chairs and honorary co-chairs, including presidents from both sides of the aisle who have dedicated their lives to serving the American people," Obama said in a statement.

The actress served as a national campaign co-chair for Obama and bundled $271, 300 for his reelection effort. Additionally, Longoria’s Futuro Fund generated $30 million for Hispanic outreach for Obama’s campaign.

Longoria, perhaps best known for her roles as the mentally unstable Isabella Braña on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless," has a history of controversial blunders.

Longoria was the subject of very public divorce in November 2010 after she discovered her husband, San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, was sexting her friend and his former teammate’s wife, Erin Barry.

Beso, Longoria’s restaurant and club, shut its doors for good in July 2011 after filing for bankruptcy that January. The closure sent 128 to the unemployment line. After running Beso $5.7 million in debt, the Los Angeles Times reported in September that Longoria would be reopening the space as a woman-centric steakhouse.

Longoria faced criticism after retweeting one of her follower’s tweets referring presidential candidate Mitt Romney in October.

"I have no idea why any woman/minority can vote for Romney," the tweet read. "You have to be stupid to vote for such a racist/misogynistic twat."

Longoria, who was "moved to tears" over Obama’s reelection, will be responsible for organizing inaugural festivities including the inaugural ball.

The Presidential Inauguration is set for Jan. 21, 2013.