Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González announced on Tuesday that her chief of staff, Francisco Domenech, and deputy chief of staff, Itza García, will step down from their roles next month. The departures come as both officials face ongoing corruption allegations and investigations by an independent state agency regarding irregularities at the island's Office of Permit Management.
The current political crisis stems from the resignation of former economic development chief Sebastián Negrón in May. Upon his departure, Negrón accused the administration of interfering with his agency's operations. His exit triggered a wave of resignations, with more than 10 other officials—including the agency's chief of staff, general counsel, and finance chief—also stepping down.
At the time, Governor González had publicly praised Negrón as a “star” and expressed regret over his decision to leave.
Specific allegations against García involve claims that she pressured Negrón to appoint the wife of the president of Politank, a lobbying firm founded by Domenech, to a position within the Office of Permit Management. Furthermore, Negrón referred findings from an internal investigation to the Puerto Rico Justice Department and the Office of Government Ethics.
These findings accuse two government officials of interfering in the auction process for a contract funded by federal resources.
Domenech, who also served as executive director of Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, has faced intense scrutiny. Thomas Rivera Schatz, president of Puerto Rico’s Senate and a member of the governor’s own party, has been among the most vocal critics, having referred García to the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor’s Panel and the Office of Government Ethics.
Domenech confirmed on Friday that he is under investigation by the Special Independent Prosecutor’s Panel following allegations from Negrón, which Domenech dismissed as “riddled with lies, half-truths, documents tailored to suit a narrative, subjective characterizations and distortions.”
In response to the situation, Governor González thanked both officials for their loyalty and service, stating that she would not allow her administration’s work to be silenced by “agendas and continuous attacks.” Both Domenech and García spoke briefly during the announcement but did not address the specific allegations.
Domenech stated he was returning to private life with “the peace of mind of having served with integrity,” while a tearful García remarked that it had been a privilege to work with certain officials and that she was concluding a chapter of her commitment to Puerto Rico.
The deepening crisis has drawn attention from federal legislators concerned about the appropriate use of federal funds in the territory.
