Posted on 05/02/2008 7:12:39 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
(AP) - To Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, the so-called Total Committee established by the House of Representatives to review the accusations against him are additional evidence of the political persecution he has denounced.
"This Total Committee is the most recent evidence the island has to confirm of what the island already knows, that this investigation of myself and the Popular [Democratic] Party is all politically motivated since its origin," [Acevedo] said yesterday during a press conference.
The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) has constantly maintained that the 19 charges against the Governor over alleged election-law violations hurt him politically and favor his [New Progressive Party (PNP)] opponent, [Resident Commissioner] Luis Fortuño.
They also point out that U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez decided not to intervene in a probe involving donations from former Senator and lobbyist Robert Torricelli to several members of Congress including Fortuño, since the incumbent Resident Commissioner supported [Rodríguez's] appointment in Congress.
"At this moment, [House Speaker] José Aponte [and] the PNP legislative leadership enter the scene with the endorsement and support of Luis Fortuño, who initially said he did not want, and did not understand the need for, this type of investigation [by the Total Committee] and who now is apparently supporting it fully," Acevedo added.
That Total Committee has hired attorney Orlando Vidal, who charges $525 an hour and whose contract does not establish a cap on compensation.
To the Governor, that contract "is more proof...of the misappropriation and misspending of public funds by the PNP Legislature, and something Luis Fortuño and the PNP leadership have to explain to the island."
Aponte and Fortuño maintain that the Total Committee's evaluation has nothing to do with beginning an impeachment process against Acevedo.
According to the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the power to begin - with the approval of two thirds of its members - an impeachment process against the Governor of Puerto Rico in case of treason, bribery, other serious crimes, and those less-serious crimes that imply depravity.
In case the House presents an accusation, it is the Senate's responsibility to try [the Governor] and hand out a sentence, only with the concurrence of three fourths of the senators.
ping
I have not read Trias’ book, but I’m under the impression he was very partisan against the statehood faction when he was Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Therefore, I would take any of his arguments against statehood with a grain of salt.
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