Puerto Rico's Senate has referred to state and federal authorities discrepancies found between testimony from former Secretary of the Governorship Francisco Domenech and sworn statements by attorneys Sebastián Negrón Reichard and Ernesto Zayas García. The findings appear in the first partial report on Senate Resolution 548, presented by the Committee on Innovation, Reform and Appointments, chaired by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz.
The report states the referrals were made so relevant authorities can determine whether investigation or legal action is warranted. Rivera Schatz said it falls to the Department of Justice, the Office of the Independent Special Prosecutor, the FBI, and the Office of Government Ethics to assess the veracity of the testimonies and evidence, including corroboration of text messages.
The report notes several authorities have already begun investigative processes, and the Senate has pending information requests or subpoenas. PIP Senator María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón called the report a recap of already public sworn statements that clarifies the timeline. PPD spokesman Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz said the investigation should continue beyond the regulatory agencies' actions.
Separately, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1196, sponsored by Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos Santiago, creating the Smart Speed Assistance Program.