Puerto Rico's governor is dealing with a deepening political crisis centered on her chief of staff, Francisco Domenech, who faces allegations of public corruption, government interference, and conflicts of interest.
The trouble began last month when Sebastian Negrón, the island's economic development chief, resigned and accused the González administration of interfering with his agency's work. More than ten other officials also resigned from the agency, including its general counsel and finance chief. The agency plays a central role in attracting new investors to an island struggling with chronic power outages and other economic problems.
Domenech, who also serves as executive director of Puerto Rico's Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, responded this week by going on offense. On Wednesday, he submitted sworn statements against Negrón to Puerto Rico's Department of Justice and its Office of Government Ethics, alleging corruption and conflicts of interest. On Thursday, he justified his actions in an interview with WIPR, a government television station. Domenech said he only acted this week because it took time to compile what he describes as evidence against Negrón.
According to ABC News, the allegations against Domenech triggered his first public comments since Negrón accused him of irregularities related to contract processing and undue government interference. Negrón had also referred to the Justice Department and the Office of Government Ethics the findings of an internal investigation against two government officials accused of interfering in the process for an auction of a contract involving federal funds.
Domenech's sworn statements came after alleged private text messages between him and Negrón were made public earlier this week. Some of the alleged messages reflect pressure to find positions within the economic development agency for loyalists of Governor González who had worked on her campaign.
The allegations are being investigated by an independent state agency and have drawn attention from U.S. Congress. Federal lawmakers questioned the governor about them on Wednesday. She said the allegations are false.
Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, a member of the governor's own pro-statehood party, called Wednesday for Domenech to resign. On Thursday, Rivera Schatz went further, offering legislative immunity to Domenech and anyone else "if they confess their crimes and produce results that eradicate corruption."
Governor González had previously described Negrón as "a star" when lamenting his resignation in late May.
