Legislature to open committee of the whole hearing on irregular gov’t procurements.

La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco J. Domenech Fernández

By THE STAR STAFF

The true ownership of the Puerto Rico-based lobbying firm Politank remains unclear as conflicting statements continue to emerge from current and former company officials, as well as political leaders.

Kenneth McClintock, Politank’s director of public policy, told The STAR last Wednesday that former Electoral Comptroller Manuel Torres Nieves had purchased the firm. He added that “there were others who financed the purchase,” but declined to identify them or provide additional details. McClintock also said he would not comment on today’s legislative hearing, where former Politank founder & owner and current La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco J. Domenech Fernández is scheduled to testify before a committee of the whole regarding government contracts. 

In a separate account provided to the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, Torres Nieves insisted he is the sole owner of Politank. He stated that he took over the company after Domenech’s departure and that the corporation’s shares “are divided between myself, as principal shareholder, and the corporation itself.” He also said he assumed executive director duties on Jan. 3.

Corporate records at the Puerto Rico State Department support part of Torres Nieves’ account, indicating that he became the corporation’s CEO, secretary and resident agent, and that the previous incorporation documents listing Domenech as owner were canceled in 2018.

However, this version conflicts with assertions from other political figures who claim additional, unidentified investors were involved. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said in May that “passive partners lent money to Politank” to facilitate Domenech’s exit from the company. Rivera Schatz did not disclose the source of that information.

The contradictory narratives -- ranging from Torres’ assertion of sole ownership to claims of silent financiers -- leave unresolved the central question of who ultimately controls Politank. As Domenech prepares to testify before lawmakers, public scrutiny over the company’s structure, past management and political ties is likely to intensify. Rivera Schatz sent Domenech a 15-page questionnaire leading with questions around his ties to Politank Corp., the lobbying firm he founded before entering government service. Rivera Schatz asks him to identify all former Politank employees or associates who currently hold government positions, and then proceeds to detail contracts awarded to that firm’s clients in public agencies and corporations.

The letter maintains that, under Executive Order OE-2025-008, signed by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, the chief of staff has the authority to approve or reject contracts for professional services, auctions and other bidding methods within the executive branch. The order effectively defines the functions of the position and assigns it broad powers of coordination and administrative oversight within the executive branch.

Based on that premise, Rivera Schatz focuses a substantial part of the letter on asking whether Domenech formally recused himself from matters related to former Politank clients, what written protocol exists for such cases, and who, if delegated, assumed the authority to handle them. The letter specifically mentions contracts linked to Intervoice Communication of Puerto Rico, MMM Healthcare/Elevance Health, and Accenture, and also requests explanations regarding communications with officials, contractors and former clients.

The document also addresses the restructuring of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) debt and the role of the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, which is headed by Domenech, in this matter. The Senate leader questions Politank’s prior relationship with bondholder groups, the hiring of Houlihan Lokey, the existence or absence of written recusals, and the handling of confidential information during PREPA’s negotiations.