Mistakes shouldn't disqualify Geithner: Obama aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner made "honest mistakes" on a tax issue and the employment of a housekeeper but they should not disqualify him from serving as at the top U.S. economic official, a senior aide to President-elect Barack Obama said on Tuesday.

The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which will consider whether Geithner's nomination should be confirmed, has raised questions about a tax issue and a lack of immigration papers for a part-time housekeeper Geithner once employed.

Robert Gibbs, Obama's incoming White House press secretary said in a statement that Geithner was the "right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times."

Gibbs said Geithner's years of service "should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed."

(Reporting by Caren Bohan, editing by Jackie Frank)