Puerto Rico Lawmakers Demand Probe into Alleged Prison Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Investigation

Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Pablo José Hernández Rivera, has called for a congressional investigation into the alleged halting of prosecution efforts related to a drugs-for-votes scheme in the territory’s prisons. The demand follows a ProPublica report detailing how federal prosecutors were blocked from pursuing charges after the 2024 elections.

Federal and Local Lawmakers Demand Accountability

Hernández Rivera, a member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, urged fellow lawmakers on Tuesday to join him in pushing for a congressional probe. In a statement in Spanish, he said:

«The report published today by ProPublica details facts that no elected official — whether in Puerto Rico or in Washington — can ignore.»

The same day, Rep. Héctor Ferrer Santiago, a member of the Popular Democratic Party, introduced a resolution in Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives. The resolution orders the Committee on Public Security to investigate the allegations, which Ferrer Santiago described as «serious!» and an «inescapable duty to investigate.»

Leaders of the Puerto Rican Independence Party also joined the call for an investigation. Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago, vice president of the party, stated on social media that partisan intervention in prison spaces should not be ignored due to its «severe implications.»

Prosecutors Uncovered a Prison Drugs-for-Votes Scheme

ProPublica’s investigation revealed that federal prosecutors had uncovered a drugs-for-votes scheme allegedly run by a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons. The probe also examined whether now-Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón or her campaign were involved.

According to four sources with knowledge of the investigation, prosecutors were preparing indictments in the days following President Donald Trump’s election in 2024. However, they were instructed by supervisors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico to exclude voting-related charges against inmates and prison staff.

Once Trump took office, prosecutors were told to abandon the probe into potential political ties entirely, the sources said.

González-Colón Denies Any Wrongdoing

Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón, a longtime Republican and member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, has not been charged with any crime. In a statement on Tuesday, she denied any involvement in the alleged scheme, stating:

«I categorically reject any attempt to link me to unlawful conduct.»

«I have stood firmly against corruption throughout my career and political campaigns.»

González-Colón declined repeated requests for interviews by ProPublica. On Wednesday, she told local news outlets she does not believe an investigation is warranted. In Spanish, she said:

«There is nothing here. And, if they have research from the past four years, let them do it, let them bring it to a successful conclusion. But I have absolutely nothing to do with the things that are pointed out there, much less my campaign.»

Senate President Initially Acknowledged Concerns

Thomas Rivera Schatz, president of the Puerto Rico Senate and a member of González-Colón’s party, initially acknowledged concerns about the matter in local media. However, further details about his stance were not provided in the report.