Gov. Wanda Vázquez Will Be Investigated by an Independent Special Prosecutor

Vázquez will be investigated along with other members of her cabinet. The investigation was referred by former Secretary of Justice, who was fired after making those referrals.

SAN JUAN — Governor Wanda Vázquez will be investigated by a special prosecutor after the Panel on the Independent Special Prosecutor (PFEI by its Spanish initials) found probable cause to proceed with the inquiry.

The panel found probable cause for the investigation referred by the former secretary of the Department of Justice, Dennise Longo Quiñones. Longo was asked to present her resignation the day she submitted the referrals for the investigation. Vázquez denied any correlation between the two events.

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The special prosecutor Leticia Pabón Ortiz and the deputy prosecutor Miguel Colón Ortiz will be in charge of the investigation.

Along with Vázquez, the following members of the governor’s cabinet will also be investigated: the Chief of Staff, Antonio Pabón Batlle, former administrator of the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF by its Spanish initials), Surima Quiñones Suárez, the former ADSEF deputy administrator, José Galarza Vargas, Senator Evelyn Vázquez Nieves, and María Teresa Zayas Gierbolini.

The investigation is focused on the mishandling of a warehouse facility in Ponce that contained emergency supplies for victims of earthquakes that severely damaged the southwestern region of the island in January.

The confirmation of the investigation comes three weeks before the primaries will be held in Puerto Rico. Vázquez is running to hold the governor’s seat for the New Progressive Party (PNP by its Spanish initials). Vázquez is competing against Pedro Pierluisi for the governor race.

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This is a developing story.