Rivera Schatz sends Domenech a 15-page letter.
Info requests involve alleged links between gov’t contracts & lobbying firm
By THE STAR STAFF
A new political controversy emerged Thursday after a letter — signed by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz — was sent to La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández, containing 15 pages of requests for information related to the links between the political strategist’s alleged lobbying firm Politank and government agencies.
The island Senate has summoned Domenech to appear before a committee of the whole next week (see related story on page 2).
The questions seek to determine if clients of Politank are benefitting from government contracts because of Domenech, who has said he no longer owns the firm.
The information was made public on Jay Fonseca’s YouTube channel. Domenech has stated that he no longer owns Politank, yet the Senate president’s letter demands extensive documentation regarding the firm’s activities, clients and relationships. The inquiry specifically highlights several individuals and legislative issues, raising broader questions about conflicts of interest within Puerto Rico’s political landscape.
One of the figures mentioned is Michael Ayala, who allegedly had a role or participation connected to Politank while simultaneously serving as an adviser to Gov. Jenniffer González Colón. Ayala, however, has flatly denied having links to the firm.
The letter also requests information regarding Eduardo Soria Rivera, who heads the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), and any alleged connection to the financial consulting firm Ecoval, a matter that has surfaced in past policy debates, and alleged links to government contracts. Soria removed himself from the firm in January 2025 after he was appointed to COR3.
In addition, Rivera Schatz seeks details about the controversial La Parguera bill, a piece of legislation that has drawn attention due to environmental and land‑use concerns in the Lajas coastal community and its attempts to legalize a property owned by the governor’s in-laws.
Another point of inquiry relates to the motives and objectives behind approving the all‑terrain vehicle law, suggesting that the Senate president is probing potential influences behind the measure, which the governor wants to enact.
The sweeping nature of the 15‑page request suggests a broader effort by Rivera Schatz to scrutinize the relationships between lobbyists, government advisers and influential private firms. While no formal allegations have been issued, the inquiries raise fresh questions about transparency and the political influence of private consultants within government operations.
