Wanda Vázquez Wiki

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Who is Wanda Vázquez?

The former governor of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez, was arrested early Thursday in San Juan, said one of her lawyers, Peter John Porrata.

Lymari Cruz-Rubio, a spokeswoman for the FBI in the island’s capital, confirmed the arrest of three people for alleged corruption but did not reveal their names.

Vázquez, a former Attorney General, served as governor of the US territory from 2019 to 2021. Her appointment came after disgraced former Governor Ricardo Rosselló was forced to resign following island-wide protests against his rule.

Arrest

A news conference on the arrests is expected Thursday morning, according to Cruz-Rubio.
Vázquez’s brief tenure as governor was also controversial.
In January 2020, Puerto Ricans took to the streets of San Juan calling for his resignation after Hurricane Maria supplies were found in a warehouse in the city of Ponce, more than two years after the storm.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi, who was elected governor after Vásquez, said Thursday: “Under my administration there is zero tolerance for corruption.”
“Today we see once again that no one is above the law in Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi, a member of the same pro-Commonwealth party as Vásquez, said in Spanish via Twitter.

The arrest “certainly affects and damages the confidence of our people,” the governor said.
“I reiterate that in my administration we will continue to have a common front with the federal authorities against anyone who commits an improper act,” said the governor.

Investigation

Later that year, Puerto Rican officials confirmed that Vásquez was being investigated on suspicion of mishandling resources intended to mitigate earthquake damage on the island.
“Wherever it comes from and whoever it can involve, as well as promote initiatives and follow up on the bills that I have presented to combat corruption,” he said.

In 2019, Rosselló chose Pierluisi as his successor.
His short-lived tenure came to an end after just five days when the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico declared his governorship unconstitutional.

Vázquez was subsequently sworn in. “In light of the decision of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, I must step aside and support the Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi had said in a statement at the time.Pierluisi later won the election for the seat in November 2020.