Justice Dept. recuses itself from evaluating Domenech’s complaints against Negrón Reichard

La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández

La Fortaleza chief of staff submits new evidence on alleged fast‑tracking of tax decree for ex-DDEC secretary’s wife

By THE STAR STAFF

Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres announced Tuesday that she has referred the complaints filed by La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández against former Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard to the Office of the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel as a precautionary measure in response to public allegations of a possible conflict of interest.

“I wish to emphasize that the Department of Justice has the full capacity, rigor, and integrity to investigate this case independently and objectively. Therefore, we categorically reject any insinuation of a conflict of interest on our part,” Gómez Torres said in a written statement. “However, given the public speculation and with the sole purpose of avoiding even the mere appearance or erroneous perception of a conflict, we have taken the precautionary measure of referring this matter directly to the Office of the Panel on the Independent Special Prosecutor.”

The complaints were filed through sworn statements and a dossier of evidence, according to the Justice Department.

Domenech submitted additional documentary evidence this week that he says substantiates earlier referrals made to the Office of Government Ethics (OEG by its initials in Spanish) and the Department of Justice regarding the handling of a tax decree application filed by María Beatriz Gorostiaga Zubizarreta, the wife of Negrón Reichard.

Domenech said the new documents -- sourced from the agency’s own official case file -- directly contradict public statements issued last week by Negrón Reichard and former DDEC Incentives Director Ernesto Zayas García, who denied having processed or approved any decree request submitted by Gorostiaga Zubizarreta.

The supplemental affidavit states that on March 1 of this year Gorostiaga Zubizarreta filed application number 2025‑Act60/2100.01‑000504 seeking a decree under Section 2100.01 of Puerto Rico’s Incentives Code (Act 60‑2019). The case file shows that documents tied to the request had been submitted as early as August 2025, and again in December 2025 and February of this year -- months before Negrón Reichard sought guidance from the OEG on whether he should recuse himself.

The OEG issued its response on May 1, clarifying that any determination on recusal would not apply retroactively.

The documents also reveal that by March 17 of this year -- only 16 days after the application was filed -- staff within the DDEC’s Incentives Office had already prepared a draft decree and a recommendation sheet for the secretary’s consideration.

On April 13, the draft was sent to the Treasury Department for comments, even though the OEG had not yet ruled on Negrón Reichard’s request for recusal.

The case continued to advance internally and was marked “Ready for final evaluation” on May 26, shortly before Negrón Reichard left the agency.

Domenech emphasized that the speed of the process stands out when compared with the hundreds of applications typically handled by the DDEC, as well as the 149 pending decrees that Negrón Reichard left unresolved upon his departure.

The new information has been forwarded to the OEG and the Department of Justice for incorporation into ongoing investigations into potential violations of the OEG’s Organic Act (Act 1-2012) and Puerto Rico’s Penal Code (Act 146-2012).

Domenech also requested that investigators examine the role of attorney Zayas García, who oversaw the Incentives Office at the time, to determine whether he received instructions from Negrón Reichard to grant preferential treatment or expedite the review of the application submitted by his wife (who, in a written statement to the press last week, claimed to be unaware of the process).