LONDON (AP) - Britain’s Home Secretary apologized Sunday for claiming parliamentary expenses for the cost of five movies _ including two x-rated ones _ screened at her home.
Jacqui Smith claimed for two unnamed adult movies that were shown on pay-per-view television channels at her family home in April 2008.
A spokeswoman said the adult movies were x-rated and had scenes of a sexual nature. The spokeswoman spoke anonymously in line with government policy.
The adult movies each cost 5 pounds ($7). Smith also claimed for three family movies _ two viewings of “Ocean’s Thirteen” and one of “Surf’s Up” at 3.75 pounds ($5) each.
Smith admitted Sunday that she should not have claimed for any of the movies and said all money would be paid back.
“I am sorry that in claiming for my Internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it,” she said in a statement. “As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation.”
The Sunday Express newspaper and other British media reported that the adult movies were watched by Smith’s husband Richard Timney. He told reporters Sunday he was sorry for any embarrassment he caused his wife.
“I can fully understand why people might be angry and offended by this,” he said. “Quite obviously a claim should never have been made for these films, and as you know that money is being paid back.”
Smith is already under investigation from the parliamentary ethics watchdog over expenses she claims on the home in Redditch, in central England. She says it is expenses for a second home _ with her sister’s home in London her main residence.
The government backed Smith Sunday.
“Jacqui Smith has done the right thing by taking steps to rectify this inadvertent mistake as soon as she became aware of it,” Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s office said in a statement.
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