Former La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández has asked Puerto Rico’s Government Ethics Office (OEG) to dismiss an ethics complaint against him, arguing that hiring attorney Janet Parra Mercado for legal representation does not violate the Government Ethics Act. His legal team filed a motion Thursday seeking dismissal and summary judgment in Complaint 27-21, filed on October 29, which challenges his hiring of Parra Mercado after he left government service.
The complaint stems from a letter of no objection tied to a contract between the State Insurance Fund Corp. (CFSE) and Parra Mercado, issued nearly a year earlier with the electronic signatures of Domenech and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Attorney Iván Rivera Reyes said the OEG does not allege Domenech received "a single cent from anyone" and that the statute aims to prevent "revolving door" situations.
The defense says Article 4.6(c) targets former officials who obtain benefits from private entities that got favorable treatment, and that Domenech paid Parra Mercado with his own funds for a personal matter, an investigation before the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel. It says the communication was part of a routine fiscal review of more than 7,500 annual transactions, and that Domenech did not select, negotiate, award or administer the CFSE contract or authorize payments.
The motion also argues the OEG’s reading could infringe his right to choose counsel and violate due process. The complaint remains pending.