Official denies governor is hiding amid Domenech-Negrón Reichard controversy

La Fortaleza Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano

By THE STAR STAFF

La Fortaleza Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano denied on Tuesday that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón is hiding from the press due to the absence of a recent news conference regarding the controversy between La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández and former Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard.

“Governor Jenniffer González has no reason to hide, and she is not hiding,” Peña Payano said while answering questions from the press.

The official maintained that González Colón would soon make “specific” statements regarding the matter.

“She will be making specific statements soon,” he asserted.

Peña Payano also stated that Domenech Fernández retains the governor’s confidence.

“At this moment, he enjoys the governor’s confidence, and he is carrying out the governor’s instructions and government agenda as chief of staff,” he said.

The remarks followed Domenech Fernández’s submission of a supplemental sworn statement regarding the processing of a tax incentive decree requested by María Beatriz Gorostiaga Zubizarreta, Negrón Reichard’s wife (see story on page 4).

Regarding that sworn statement, Peña Payano said the process must proceed before the relevant agencies.

“He made those allegations via a sworn statement accompanied by a chronological record detailing what he knows from his own personal knowledge,” he said.

The public affairs secretary maintained that the standard procedures within investigative agencies should be allowed to run their course regarding the referrals made by both Domenech Fernández and Negrón Reichard.

“The truth must come out during the process, regardless of the side involved, and the governor has been clear about that,” he said.

Peña Payano clarified that, at the time of his remarks to the press, no independent special prosecutor had been assigned to investigate either Domenech Fernández or Negrón Reichard.

“At the moment, there is no appointment of a special independent prosecutor for the chief of staff or for the DDEC secretary,” he said.

The official also denied that Domenech Fernández is avoiding the press, noting that he appeared before a Senate Committee of the Whole for nearly seven hours and gave an interview on WIPR.

Domenech Fernández and Negrón Reichard have filed cross-referrals with investigative agencies regarding allegations of potential conflicts of interest, improper interference and internal DDEC processes.