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Guam - Senator Rory Respicio has issued a comment related to his staffer, Bernadette Meno, involved in preparing an affidavit regarding allegations that an ice cooler was seen on election day at a precinct in Dededo allegedly filled with premarked ballots for the Calvo Tenorio team and some senatorial candidates.

The individual who signed the complaint, which was filed on Nov. 17th, was Catherine Peredo. She was a Democrat precinct official on the day of the election. Peredo signed an affidavit recanting the allegation. She stated she didn't prepare the affidavit but that it was prepared by Meno. Peredo said she didn't read it before she signed it because she was in a hurry and tired. She said however she did see one ballot but she wasn't sure whether it was an official general election ballot or sample ballot.

Meno is currently employed at Senator Respicio's office. Respicio is the Committee Chair on Election Reform and is also the Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Guam. Respicio hired her after she was terminated from the Port Authority two years ago for her role in an alleged conspiracy to defraud the government. Her appeal is still before the Civil Service Commission.

"I did not think it was necessary for me to issue a statement because this alleged incident and its aftermath are not connected to my senatorial office, the Democratic Party of Guam, or to me personally," stated Sen. Respicio. "I had no prior knowledge whatsoever of this alleged incident, or any efforts of the Gutierrez Gumataotao volunteer campaign staff to bring this complaint to the proper authorities." he added.

Sen. Respicio said that as soon as he learned of the story on KUAM.com he contacted Meno and left it to her to issue a public statement, and subsequently left it to her to respond to these new allegations made by Ms. Peredo.

Meno in her statement said she was present at a meeting with Peredo, Attorney Vanessa Williams and Robert Kelley when the allegations were made. "After hearing her allegations we were all obviously very concerned because they alleged a potential criminal activity. It was decided that she should memorialize what she told us in an affidavit as well as speak to the FBI about her allegations. Both Catherine and her husband John agreed to do both. I drafted the affidavit based on what she told Attorney Williams, myself and Mr. Kelley and told her to make any changes necessary prior to signing it. The FBI agreed to interview her based on the seriousness of her allegations and they did so on Sunday November 15, 2014," Meno stated.

After the complaint was filed and reported in the media. Meno says Mr. John Peredo (Catherine's husband) called her allegedly upset that his wife was getting threatening and harssassing phone calls over her name being in the news. Meno advised them to report it to the proper authorities.

"I am unsure why she is now recanting her story considering she shared it with numerous persons including the FBI. I certainly hope the fear of speaking up and endangering her government job as well as her allegations of receiving threatening phone calls did not play a role in this. I wish her and her husband well," Meno stated.

Robert Kelley also issued a statement regarding the recantment. He confirms he was present in a meeting with Peredo, Meno and Attorney Williams. Kelley wrote:

"I was asked on Friday, Nov 14 to contact Cathy and ask her to come in and prepare an affidavit. I sent her a text asking her and she agreed to come to the Campaign Hqs on her lunch hour. At that time, Cathy discussed the allegation with Bernadette Meno and Vanessa Williams. Both ladies asked Cathy questions and took notes. I was present with them for part of the interview, however I also was dealing with my business functions needing attention at the time. Based upon the notes of the interview, and Cathy's written statements, Bernadette prepared a typed affidvait. I was provided an unsigned copy."

Kelley wrote that he had a contact in the FBI and asked if she would agree to be interviewed. She agreed and the meeting took place last weekend.

"Based upon my contact with Cathy I think she really thought that she saw a ballot or ballots in the cooler, but that she was scared and really was not sure of what she saw. It was only a momentary glance. I also think that Bernadette Meno tried to accurately prepare an affidavit based on her notes and Cathy's statements. I have been told many times by Cathy that she just wants to do the right thing, but that she is very afraid that her reporting this incident will cause repercussions as a Government of Guam Employee at the Retirement Fund," Kelley stated.

On Saturday, the Guam Election Commission passed a motion to forward the matter to the Attorney General's office for further investigation.

"I take my job as your senator very seriously and have worked very hard with the Guam Election Commission over the past 8 years to provide for the much-needed election reform measurers. I am saddened by this chain of events, and how my name is being dragged into this election controversy. I, too, pray that the Attorney General and the FBI conducts an investigation into this matter, and that the truth surrounding these allegations is determined and their finding be disclosed to the public," Sen. Respicio stated.