Bank of America sues Hardesty over credit card debt

PORTLAND, Ore. — Bank of America is suing Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty over credit card debt.

Court documents show the bank is seeking more than $16,000 from Hardesty. The bank claims two credit card accounts in her name are in default.

Hardesty sent a statement to KATU News.

“When I ran for City Council in 2018, like many working people I was reliant on a credit card and built up debt,” she wrote. “I live alone, without help, and put all of myself into my work at the City.

“Sometimes that means I neglect to take care of personal matters.

“I tried to work out a payment plan before with this debt that didn’t work out and intend to pay this off.”

City records show Hardesty earns about $128,000 a year as a commissioner.

On Monday, it was reported Hardesty is suing the police union and the city of Portland over a leak that falsely implicated her in a hit-and-run crash.