Vázquez is accused of engaging in a bribery scheme with several people, including a bank owner, a former FBI agent and a political consultant.
was arrested Thursday on bribery charges related to the financing of her 2020 campaign, marking the first time that a former leader of the island faces federal charges.
Governor Wanda Vazquez gives a press conference to announce the extension of the COVID-19 curfew, while detailing the new sectors of the country that may resume operations, as part of a new executive order in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, May 21, 2020.The consultant, identified as John Blakeman, and the bank president, identified as Frances Díaz, have pleaded guilty to participating in the bribery scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Authorities said Vázquez accepted the bribery offer and in February 2020 demanded the commissioner's resignation. She then was accused of appointing a former consultant for Herrera's bank as the new commissioner in May 2020. After the move, officials said Herrera and Velutini paid more than $300,000 to political consultants to support Vázquez's campaign.
Vázquez was sworn in as governor in August 2019 after former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló stepped down following massive protests. She served until 2021, after losing the primaries of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party to now Gov. Pedro Pierluisi. Vázquez previously served as the island's justice secretary and a district attorney for more than 30 years.
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