Top Puerto Rico officials resign in group chat scandal that ensnares
governor
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[July 15, 2019]
By Luis Valentin Ortiz
SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Two of Puerto Rico's
top government officials resigned on Saturday following the publication
of a bombshell group chat in which Governor Ricardo Rossello and his
closest allies exchanged controversial messages that have led to
widespread calls for Rossello to also step down.
The political turmoil comes at a critical stage in the U.S.
commonwealth's historic bankruptcy and as its officials seek billions of
dollars in funding from the federal government for healthcare and for
recovery efforts following devastating hurricanes in 2017.
It also follows a 32-count federal indictment and arrests on Wednesday
of six people, including two former high-ranking Puerto Rico government
officials, who were charged with conspiracy and other crimes in
connection with millions of dollars in federal Medicaid and education
funds.
Two of the 12-member group chat - Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin
and Christian Sobrino, the island's chief financial officer and
Rossello's representative on Puerto Rico's federally created fiscal
oversight board - left the government following Saturday's release by
Puerto Rico journalist group Centro de Periodismo Investigativo of 889
pages of text messages.
They show how Rossello and his closest advisors, including former and
current public officials, public relations operatives and the governor's
former campaign manager, exchanged memes, derogatory, misogynistic and
homophobic comments, as well as jokes about journalists, politicians and
activists in a Telegram group chat. The messages further include public
policy discussions, sharing of confidential government information and
political campaign work, despite the presence of individuals who were
not public officials at the time.
Calls for Rossello to resign have come from local politicians, including
from the administration’s own political party, and U.S. Representative
Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who chairs the House Natural
Resources Committee, which oversees U.S. territories.
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Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello speaks during an interview in
New York City, U.S., November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File
Photo
Activist groups and Puerto Rican celebrities such as Ricky Martin
and Bad Bunny have also called for the governor's immediate
resignation.
So far Rossello, who had planned to run for a second term in the
November 2020 election, has resisted the calls.
“I was elected by the people and I will continue the mission that
was granted to me, now more than ever,” the governor said in a
statement.
He added that a successor for Sobrino will be announced “within
hours.” It was unclear when a successor would be named for secretary
of state, a position that is second in charge of the government,
according to Puerto Rico’s Constitution.
Puerto Rico filed a form of bankruptcy in 2017 to restructure about
$120 billion of debt and pension obligations. Its oversight board,
which has been feuding with Roswell over spending priorities, is
expected to soon unveil a proposed plan of adjustment for the
island's core government debt, which includes a more than $50
billion unfunded pension liability.
(Reporting By Luis Valentin Ortiz in San Juan, Additional reporting
by Karen Pierog in Chicago; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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