MIAMI -- A retired congresswoman who was a paid consultant on the development of a planned bio-pharmaceutical park in Liberty City that hasn't been built lambasted The Miami Herald during a live interview Sunday and said the blame is being placed on the wrong people.

Retired U.S. Rep. Carrie P. Meek appeared on Local 10's "This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney" on Sunday, telling him The Miami Herald exposé of Boston developer Dennis Stackhouse's unfulfilled plans and her involvement in the scandal seems more intent on targeting her and her family than the person directly responsible.

"I am proud of my reputation," Meek said. "I work hard to build it. I'm going to keep it, in spite of The Miami Herald's expressions, which really seem to be focused more on me and my son than it is Mr. Stackhouse."

Her comment was in response to an editorial in Sunday's Herald by Carl Hiaasen entitled, "Another Colossal Rip-Off." He wrote: "He (Stackhouse) greased the biotech project with hundreds of thousands of dollars and perks to politicians, lobbyists and insiders. Prominent and disappointing among these are former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek."

The newspaper accuses Stackhouse of draining hundreds of thousands of dollars from Poinciana Biopharmaceutical Park through double billings and dubious expenses. Authorities are investigating the project.

Meek said Stackhouse has trampled on her reputation, as well as that of her son's, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek.

"I learned all this about Mr. Stackhouse about 10 days before the articles came out in the Herald," Meek said. "Of course, the Herald had six or eight months to research. I only had two months -- two weeks, to tell you the truth. This is something that has shaken our community and certainly has shaken my family because we have been placed in the position by this article even more so than Mr. Stackhouse."

Meek said she never consulted with her son about her involvement with Stackhouse.

"I did not consult with my son," she said. "I don't have to. I stayed in Congress 10 years. I stayed in the Florida Senate 12 years. Both times I was on the appropriations committee. I don't have to call my son."

Meek said she has cut all ties with Stackhouse, including returning the car he loaned her and planning to move out of the office space he gave her. She said she still hopes the land can be developed.

Stackhouse was invited to appear on the show but did not respond.