LUMA Energy president and chief executive Janisse Quiñones demanded an immediate, rigorous and transparent investigation on Wednesday into allegations that attempts were made to influence justices of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court to void the company’s contract. Her statement came a day after attorney and commentator Eddie López said on Tuesday, on the TeleOnce program Nación, that a source told him the governor had personally phoned justices of the island’s highest court.
We are not requesting special treatment or favoring any particular outcome,
According to López, the approaches sought to get the justices to change their votes and favor annulling LUMA’s contract. He described the alleged offers as "advance Black Friday offers" and claimed one justice was offered a promotion, advancement or renomination for a partner, while another was offered government contracts through a relative. López stressed the information came from a source and said he was not accusing the justices of misconduct.
The allegations have not been independently corroborated. Quiñones called the allegations extremely worrying and said they must be investigated thoroughly so it is clarified, transparently and credibly, whether the described events occurred. She said LUMA has full confidence in the integrity of the Supreme Court and that her concern is not aimed at the justices.
"We are not requesting special treatment or favoring any particular outcome," she said, adding that LUMA’s position is presented before the Court through legally established mechanisms, the only forum where the dispute should be resolved. Quiñones warned the matter goes beyond LUMA’s contract dispute because of its consequences for public trust in judicial independence and the credibility of Puerto Rico’s institutions.