"That's a lie": Tenorio disputes Terlaje's request to attend BOEM meeting

Tensions over deep-sea mining are spilling into local politics. Acting Governor Josh Tenorio is pushing back after Senator Therese Terlaje said she was not allowed into the federal meeting at Adelup with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Adelup’s closed-door meeting with federal officials was already controversial. But now, disagreement between local leaders is adding another layer. When asked about her presence protesting outside and not inside with government officials, Senator Terlaje told KUAM News "I had asked and they said they would work on it, but I was not invited."

Acting Governor Tenorio strongly disputed that claim, noting, "She has never requested - that is a lie." Inquiring with his staff, he asked them, "Has anyone received a notification? Who did she ask?"

He added that even if a request had been made, he would not have been able to include her. Tenorio said the meeting was requested by the visiting BOEM officials and limited to the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies, not open to lawmakers.

"I know that she has aspirations to be in the Executive Branch, but unfortunately she did not make a request to us, certainly not to me," said Tenorio.

The exchange highlights tensions Thursday over who represents Guam in federal decisions, and who gets a seat at the table. When asked what it means in regards to transparency and accountability, Terlaje responded, "Well, I’m just going to hope they are representing us as they said they would and they are going to object as strenuously as possible to any deep sea mining, object to the new rules they’re putting in place, that they’re going to bypass even our governor with the rules moving forward. We’re just going to be with the people of Guam in this and I think we’re all united. There’s too many unknowns. The risks are known and are catastrophic."

It should be noted Tenorio is running for governor, and Terlaje has made it known she is considering throwing her hat in the gubernatorial race, as well. 

Senator Terlaje later sent KUAM an email receipt of her office requesting Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Lester Carlson for a seat weeks before the meeting.

She said he did not respond.