"Donald Trump reportedly intends to pardon Puerto Rico's former governor Wanda Vazquez Garced, who was indicted in 2022 on federal corruption charges surrounding her earlier gubernatorial campaign. In addition to Vazquez, Trump plans to pardon her co-defendants including Julio Martin Herrera Velutini, founder of Britannia Financial Group; as well as Mark Rossini, a former FBI agent who served as a consultant for Herrera, according to CBS, which first reported the development on Friday."
"Ms Vazquez's pardon materials state that there was never any element of a quid pro quo deal and that her prosecution was politically motivated. Vazquez, who served as governor of Puerto from 2019 to 2021, endorsed Trump's re-election bid in 2020. She, Herrera and Rossini pleaded guilty in August to lesser corruption charges after initially being charged in 2022 with conspiracy, federal programs bribery, and honest-services wire fraud by the US justice department's public integrity section, which has since been largely dismantled."
"Herrera and Rossini allegedly promised financial support in 2019 for Vazquez's campaign if she replaced Puerto Rico's banking commissioner, whose office was scrutinising Herrera's bank for suspicious transactions, with a more favorable appointee. More than $300,000 was allegedly paid to political consultants backing Vazquez's campaign, the Associated Press reported. After Vazquez's arrest in 2022, she repeatedly denied wrongdoing. However, as the case neared trial, the justice department swiftly reached a plea deal with the defendants."
Donald Trump intends to pardon Wanda Vazquez Garced and co-defendants including Julio Martin Herrera Velutini and Mark Rossini, who were indicted in 2022 on federal corruption charges tied to Vazquez's gubernatorial campaign. Vazquez governed Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2021 and endorsed Trump in 2020; she and two co-defendants pleaded guilty to lesser charges in August after initial counts included conspiracy, federal programs bribery, and honest-services wire fraud. Pardon materials assert no quid pro quo and political motivation. Allegations include promises of campaign support in exchange for replacing Puerto Rico's banking commissioner and payments exceeding $300,000 to consultants; significant donations to a Trump-aligned Super PAC by Herrera's daughter were reported.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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