SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor announced Tuesday that her chief of staff, Francisco Domenech, and deputy chief of staff, Itza García, will step down next month as they face corruption allegations, which they deny.
The pair is under investigation by an independent state agency regarding irregularities at Puerto Rico’s Office of Permit Management. Domenech also previously served as executive director of the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority.
The situation escalated after former economic development secretary Sebastián Negrón resigned in May, accusing Governor Jenniffer González’s administration of interfering with agency operations. His departure triggered a wave of resignations affecting over 10 officials, including the agency’s chief of staff, general counsel, and finance director.
Governor González had previously praised Negrón as “a star” and expressed regret over his resignation at the time.
Negrón accused Domenech of contract processing irregularities and undue government interference—charges Domenech has denied. Additionally, García was accused of pressuring Negrón to appoint the wife of Politank’s president—a prominent lobbying firm founded by Domenech—to the Office of Permit Management.
Negrón also forwarded findings from an internal investigation to Puerto Rico’s Justice Department and Office of Government Ethics, alleging interference in a federal contract auction process by two government officials.
Growing pressure mounted for Domenech and García to resign, including from members of the governor’s own party, notably Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who recently referred García to ethics oversight bodies.
Governor González expressed gratitude for their service while stating that “a period of public service comes to a close” and vowed not to let her administration’s work be undermined by “agendas and continuous attacks” from unnamed critics.
Both officials made brief statements without directly addressing the allegations. Domenech said he leaves with “the peace of mind of having served with integrity,” while García, fighting back tears, described her tenure as professionally enriching and affirmed her ongoing commitment to Puerto Rico.
Domenech had previously filed sworn statements accusing Negrón of corruption and conflicts of interest—allegations Negrón denies. On Friday, Domenech confirmed he was being investigated by the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor’s Panel, calling Negrón’s claims “riddled with lies, half-truths, documents tailored to suit a narrative, subjective characterizations and distortions.”
The ongoing corruption allegations and deepening political crisis have drawn attention from federal legislators, who are questioning the appropriate use of federal funds in Puerto Rico.
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