Rivera Schatz: Garffer won’t be confirmed if he does not comply with the Constitution

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

By The Star Staff

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz issued a warning Monday to secretary of state nominee Arthur Garffer, stating that although he recognizes his professional career and qualifications, if he does not meet constitutional requirements he will not be confirmed.

“If it turns out that he meets the requirements, I will be the first to vote in favor,” Rivera Schatz said. “But if he does not meet the requirements, even if I wanted to, I cannot confirm him. It’s that simple.”

The Senate leader emphasized that rigor in evaluating appointments is not negotiable, regardless of the personal or political relationship with the nominee.

“This isn’t about capriciously rejecting any appointment, nor antagonizing anyone, much less the governor,” he stressed. “But if she doesn’t comply, she doesn’t comply.”

Rivera Schatz noted that the Senate has approved 94% of the appointments presented by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, but reiterated that “[t]his appointment and any other will be evaluated responsibly.”

“Friendship, empathy, or personal respect are no substitute for compliance with the law,” he emphasized.

The Senate president said the necessary documentation will be requested from the relevant authorities to validate whether Garffer meets the residency requirements established by the island Constitution. Once the official information is available, he said, it will be shared with all senators to make an informed decision.

Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) minority leaders in the island House and Senate, Héctor Ferrer Santiago and Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, respectively, insisted that the appointment of Garffer as secretary of state confirms the collapse of the appointment process in the González Colón administration.

In a written statement, Ferrer accused the governor of having “the intention to impose people without verifying whether they met the constitutional requirements.”

Hernández Ortiz emphasized that the governor herself announced that all her nominees would undergo a background check process.

“Garffer is proof that the so-called government of background checks is another lie,” he said. “This official does not meet the constitutional residency requirement, yet his appointment was still insisted upon.”

The PDP leaders presented documents showing that Garffer maintained his electoral registration in Florida, made political donations from that jurisdiction, and has no properties registered in his name in Puerto Rico. They said the data demonstrates that he does not meet the residency requirement to hold the position of secretary of state.