Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz filed a referral and complaint against Itza García, deputy secretary of the Governor's Office, with the Office of the Panel on the Independent Special Prosecutor (PFEI) and the Office of Government Ethics (OEG), alleging violations of the Penal Code, the Government Ethics Law, and the Anti-Corruption Code for the New Puerto Rico. The referral stems from sworn testimony gathered during a legislative investigation into alleged irregularities at the Office of Permit Management (OGPe). According to the document, former Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard testified that between October and November 2025 he received a call from Governor's Office secretary Francisco Domenech, allegedly ordering him to hire García's romantic partner, Luis Sánchez, to work at OGPe.
The document states García herself forwarded the hiring proposal and later personally followed up on it multiple times. Rivera Schatz argues the hire economically benefited her partner and, citing Supreme Court precedent on cohabitation implying shared property, could constitute a conflict of interest. He cites an OEG determination noting García shared a residence with Sánchez, a representative of Next Wave Solutions, LLC, a company holding contracts with several agencies including DDEC.
Rivera Schatz asked both bodies to investigate whether the described conduct violates existing law.