Governor rules out withdrawing secretary of state’s nomination

Designated Secretary of State Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón insisted Thursday that she will not withdraw Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo’s nomination for secretary of state, despite Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz’s warning that Ferraiuoli does not have enough votes for confirmation.

“I am not going to withdraw the nomination,” the governor said in response to questions from the press. “Nor would I accept her withdrawing it.”

González Colón strongly defended Ferraiuoli after an extensive public hearing held Wednesday before the Senate’s Committee of the Whole, during which omissions in her income tax filings were discussed. It was revealed that Ferraiuoli failed to file tax returns for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 tax years. She submitted them late in November 2024 and then amended them in April 2025, including on April 17, the day of the Holy Week blackout.

“It’s not a crime to request an extension or file a tax return late,” the governor said. “Here we have an official who complied with her obligations, who delegated her responsibilities to a certified public accountant, whom she paid to complete her tax return, and who met all payments, penalties, and interest.”

Rivera Schatz raised serious reservations during the hearing.

“A precedent will be set here where strict compliance doesn’t matter, but rather empathy,” he said. “That’s the problem. … What moral authority would the government of Puerto Rico have if this nomination is confirmed?”

In response, González Colón stated that extensions are provided for by law and that many taxpayers rely on professionals to fulfill their tax obligations.

“If we’re going to say that people who request an extension are committing a crime, I won’t sign that bill,” she asserted. “The goal is for everyone to meet their tax obligations.”

Regarding the claim that Ferraiuoli failed to comply with the extensions and submitted her tax returns late, González Colón clarified that by the time Ferraiuoli was nominated on December 30, 2024, she had already fulfilled her responsibilities.

“The information I have is that the CPA filed those amended tax returns, not her,” the governor said. “People deserve to be evaluated based on their character, not perceptions based on the administrative errors of others.”

When questioned about the moral standard for a position that is second in the constitutional line of succession, the governor reiterated that the nominee is not facing charges or accusations of tax evasion.

“If you don’t like Ms. Ferraiuoli’s name, vote against her, but don’t make excuses,” she said.

Concerning the fact that Ferraiuoli is married to La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech, the governor denied any conflict of interest.

“Both of them sold their firms,” she emphasized. “These aren’t trusts or dormant shares. They have no ties to those businesses.”

González Colón also insisted that the nominee has the academic and professional qualifications for the position and stressed the point that Ferraiuoli was instrumental in drafting the New Progressive Party’s governing platform.

“I hope the Senate confirms her,” she said. “If not, let the appointments be voted on so the people can see who is voting for what.”

The remarks came one day after the public hearing, where Ferraiuoli faced questions regarding her failure to file income tax returns for three consecutive years and her relationship with the governor’s chief of staff.

Ferraiuoli acknowledged the late tax filings and subsequent amendments. Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez said the official requested extensions for the three tax years but did not comply with those terms. Ferraiuoli maintained in the hearing that she paid the corresponding surcharges, interest, and penalties, totaling over $7,000, and that the amendments generated a refund of over $24,000. She stated that she is in compliance with her obligations and presented certifications from the Treasury Department and the Municipal Revenue Collections Center.

The nominee also addressed allegations of a potential conflict of interest arising from her relationship with Domenech, stating, “From day one, I have recused myself from matters related to my husband and the agencies he directs, to uphold the transparency that characterizes me.”