Embattled Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Tuesday he will stay in office despite protests calling for his resignation that turned violent overnight.
A peaceful demonstration that drew thousands to the streets of San Juan on Monday turned hostile in the evening when protesters and police clashed, injuring 21 law enforcement agents, officials said.
The political turmoil came at a critical stage in the commonwealth’s bankruptcy proceedings, and as its officials seek billions of dollars in funding from the feds for health care and for recovery efforts following devastating hurricanes in 2017.
Protests against Rossello were sparked by leaked controversial and vulgar text messages between the governor and his closest allies and by a federal probe into government corruption on the island.
The Trump administration, which has tangled with Rossello in the past, said the events “prove the president’s concerns about mismanagement, politicization, and corruption have been valid,” according to a statement by White House spokesman Judd Deere.
And New York pols have also jumped into the fray.
Former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito tweeted a series of posts predicting that Rossello and his wife would face further troubles down the road.
“The FBI is investigating #PuertoRico First Lady’s charity set up after #HurricaneMaria ‘Unidos or Puerto Rico’. Anyone who thought the first arrests were the last, I have a bridge to sell you,” she wrote, referring to Beatriz Areizaga.
Rossello was forced to apologize last week to Mark-Viverito after it was revealed he called the former New York City Council speaker a “whore” in the leaked text messages
Rossello, who took office in 2017, said he respected the right to protest peacefully and vowed to bring greater transparency and accountability to his government.
He added he is in the process of replacing CFO Christian Sobrino.
With Reuters