Newt Gingrich Child Janitor: Hector Cendejas Explains Questioning Candidate

"My mother wanted us to go to a private school because she wanted us to have the best education," said Cendejas, as he sat at a small restaurant back home in Manassas Park on Thursday, one day after the publicized exchange with Gingrich.

"I must admit, it was embarrassing holding a mop in front of your classmates. They were well off ... one of them had parents with a plane. My brother had to do it, too. There were like, 10 of us, it was mostly Latinos and blacks who had to do it."

Gingrich's comments brought back memories, Cendejas said. He did custodial work his entire freshman year before moving to Manassas Park and attending the local high school where he graduated as one of the top five in his class.

"It made me reflect about my past. I never talked about it until (Wednesday). Not even my girlfriend knew about it," Cendejas said.

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