The impeachment research committee includes three attorneys who will have 10 days to provide a detailed report to Méndez, according to a press release from Méndez spokesman Raúl Colón. Méndez said the committee will evaluate the content of leaked messages between Rosselló and cabinet members and determine if there's proof Rosselló committed a crime."We are here to order this evaluation, one that will be transparent and responsible," Mendez said. "I thank this group of lawyers for giving a step forward in this historic moment for Puerto Rico. We will thoroughly evaluate the conclusions of this committee so we can proceed."Dennise Peréz, Rosselló's press secretary, resigned Friday night. In her resignation letter, Peréz said citizens used her son as a method to insult her. "While holding my head high and my family close, I thought I could go through anything and continued doing my job professionally, just how I have been for the last 20 years," she said. "Like you are aware, this week, a citizen, without any consideration, called me corrupt and did it in front of my son. This is where I draw the line."The chaos in Puerto Rico follows the Center for Investigative Journalism's publication of nearly 900 pages ofleaked chats from the governor's private Telegram Messenger group in which he and 11 top aides and Cabinet members exchanged profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages about fellow politicians, members of the media and celebrities. In one, the former chief financial officer appeared to joke about those who died in Hurricane Maria.
'You left us to die'
Thousands of protesters gathered at the capital in San Juan Friday night calling for Rosselló's resignation.Layzne Alvez told CNN the territory's government had been "left to run wild with our economy, with our money, with all the federal funds the government are sending here." She added that Puerto Ricans weren't a violent people so they did not plan to bring Rosselló down by force. "We are going to stay here no matter what," Alvez said. "We are going to force our local leaders, representatives, senators, whoever we need to, to get him out. We are going to stay here."
Protesters have jammed the streets of San Juan over the last several days. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Capitol on Wednesday and marched to the governor's mansion, playing tambourines and banging on pots and pans. At times police have fired canisters of tear gas into the crowds."Unfortunately there is always corruption in the government," said Pamela Calderón, the owner of a small restaurant on Calle San Jose. "But with the publication of the chats, people in Puerto Rico saw how the corruption affected the response to the hurricane. There's a sense of, 'You left us to die.'" "There are still people without electricity or a roof," she added. "There is a perception of being abandoned by the government, a lack of planning, and the inept way government managed the crisis." As one restaurant manager in Old San Juan said, the scandal made people snap out of their complacency."We usually wait for things to take their course," said Jose Ramos. "But this will not get resolved without pressure." Politicians from both side of the aisle are calling for Rosselló's resignation. "Its time for the governor to have an orderly transition of government so that this doesn't continue affecting us in DC as it pertains to obtaining federal funds for the island," said Jennifer González, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Washington. "The disbursement of funds to the island will obviously suffer dramatically if he remains on the position."US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, said Hawaii and Puerto Rico "share many of the same experiences and stories." "I stand with Puerto Ricans demanding change, who have had enough of government corruption, and who deserve a government of, by, and FOR the people. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. #RickyRenuncia," Gabbard tweeted. US Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican, also said in a tweet that Rosselló should step down. "I've long advocated for the families of Puerto Rico. I've pledged to be their voice in the Senate. While I've been hesitant to weigh in too heavily on the internal political affairs of the island, it's clear that the current leadership has lost the confidence of the people of PR," Scott tweeted. "The island deserves new leadership." Protesters have been joined by some of Puerto Rico's biggest stars, including reggaeton star Bad Bunny, rapper René Pérez Joglar and singer and actor Ricky Martin, one of the targets of leaked homophobic messages. And similar demonstrations have taken place on the US mainland in cities like Miami and Orlando, Florida. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and former New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito attended protests at New York's Union Square."I'm so numb from politics in America. But the people of Puerto Rico are numb and they are waking us all up. I'm going to have their backs," Miranda told CNN.
Governor not considering resigning
Puerto Rico's Justice Department has issued summonses for everyone involved in the private chat group. They will be ordered to appear before Justice Department officials to have their phones inspected, according to department spokeswoman Mariana Cobian.Through it all, Rosselló has refused to step down, and on Friday his official Instagram account Read More – Source
The impeachment research committee includes three attorneys who will have 10 days to provide a detailed report to Méndez, according to a press release from Méndez spokesman Raúl Colón. Méndez said the committee will evaluate the content of leaked messages between Rosselló and cabinet members and determine if there's proof Rosselló committed a crime."We are here to order this evaluation, one that will be transparent and responsible," Mendez said. "I thank this group of lawyers for giving a step forward in this historic moment for Puerto Rico. We will thoroughly evaluate the conclusions of this committee so we can proceed."Dennise Peréz, Rosselló's press secretary, resigned Friday night. In her resignation letter, Peréz said citizens used her son as a method to insult her. "While holding my head high and my family close, I thought I could go through anything and continued doing my job professionally, just how I have been for the last 20 years," she said. "Like you are aware, this week, a citizen, without any consideration, called me corrupt and did it in front of my son. This is where I draw the line."The chaos in Puerto Rico follows the Center for Investigative Journalism's publication of nearly 900 pages ofleaked chats from the governor's private Telegram Messenger group in which he and 11 top aides and Cabinet members exchanged profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages about fellow politicians, members of the media and celebrities. In one, the former chief financial officer appeared to joke about those who died in Hurricane Maria.
'You left us to die'
Thousands of protesters gathered at the capital in San Juan Friday night calling for Rosselló's resignation.Layzne Alvez told CNN the territory's government had been "left to run wild with our economy, with our money, with all the federal funds the government are sending here." She added that Puerto Ricans weren't a violent people so they did not plan to bring Rosselló down by force. "We are going to stay here no matter what," Alvez said. "We are going to force our local leaders, representatives, senators, whoever we need to, to get him out. We are going to stay here."Protesters have jammed the streets of San Juan over the last several days. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Capitol on Wednesday and marched to the governor's mansion, playing tambourines and banging on pots and pans. At times police have fired canisters of tear gas into the crowds."Unfortunately there is always corruption in the government," said Pamela Calderón, the owner of a small restaurant on Calle San Jose. "But with the publication of the chats, people in Puerto Rico saw how the corruption affected the response to the hurricane. There's a sense of, 'You left us to die.'" "There are still people without electricity or a roof," she added. "There is a perception of being abandoned by the government, a lack of planning, and the inept way government managed the crisis." As one restaurant manager in Old San Juan said, the scandal made people snap out of their complacency."We usually wait for things to take their course," said Jose Ramos. "But this will not get resolved without pressure." Politicians from both side of the aisle are calling for Rosselló's resignation. "Its time for the governor to have an orderly transition of government so that this doesn't continue affecting us in DC as it pertains to obtaining federal funds for the island," said Jennifer González, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Washington. "The disbursement of funds to the island will obviously suffer dramatically if he remains on the position."US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, said Hawaii and Puerto Rico "share many of the same experiences and stories." "I stand with Puerto Ricans demanding change, who have had enough of government corruption, and who deserve a government of, by, and FOR the people. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. #RickyRenuncia," Gabbard tweeted. US Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican, also said in a tweet that Rosselló should step down. "I've long advocated for the families of Puerto Rico. I've pledged to be their voice in the Senate. While I've been hesitant to weigh in too heavily on the internal political affairs of the island, it's clear that the current leadership has lost the confidence of the people of PR," Scott tweeted. "The island deserves new leadership." Protesters have been joined by some of Puerto Rico's biggest stars, including reggaeton star Bad Bunny, rapper René Pérez Joglar and singer and actor Ricky Martin, one of the targets of leaked homophobic messages. And similar demonstrations have taken place on the US mainland in cities like Miami and Orlando, Florida. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and former New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito attended protests at New York's Union Square."I'm so numb from politics in America. But the people of Puerto Rico are numb and they are waking us all up. I'm going to have their backs," Miranda told CNN.
Governor not considering resigning
Puerto Rico's Justice Department has issued summonses for everyone involved in the private chat group. They will be ordered to appear before Justice Department officials to have their phones inspected, according to department spokeswoman Mariana Cobian.Through it all, Rosselló has refused to step down, and on Friday his official Instagram account Read More – Source
