San Nicolas' former chief of staff details alleged improprieties

Tired of what he calls hypocrisy, the former chief of staff to then-senator Michael San Nicolas is coming forward, alleging he's not all what he makes himself out to be on social media.

For many people, it came as a surprise a senator defeating a titan in Guam politics: San Nicolas handily beating out longtime incumbent Madeleine Bordallo in the 2018 congressional race. A former staffer and staunch supporter, someone hidden behind the scenes, is now in the forefront shedding light on the Congressman with allegations of improprieties. John Paul Manuel says he served under San Nicolas since day one of his senatorial career to the end, a total of six years as a senior policy advisor and eventually chief of staff. He also served as chairman of his congressional campaign.

According to Manuel however at one point 50 percent of his tasks were to hide an affair with his mistress. It was after a post on the Congressman's Facebook page last Friday saluting Guam's service members, he'd seen enough.

Manuel told KUAM News, "How can you truly be supporting our troops when he is engaging in sexual relations with their wives while they are away?  There is never a convenient time to reveal a friend's wrong-doings.  But the truth needed to be said.  How is it responsible to have your chakmak on government payroll for $85,000?  Powerful men need to realize the era of using political office as their own personal sexual playground is over.  Government budgets don't have any more room for chakmaks."

Manuel alleged that he would book hotel rooms and travel arrangements and would even accompany San Nicolas on trips and dinners to conceal that the two were together. Receipts he provided to KUAM show a room booked a hotel room in Tumon under his name in May 2018, prior to that two rooms at two different hotels in the Philippines in February and March 2018.

"He used campaign funds to pay for hotel rooms with his mistress. They have been having an affair for the last five years.  He stayed at the Nurture Wellness Resort in Tagaytay and Shangri-La in BGC with his mistress when he was supposed to be at special session called by Governor Eddie Calvo to raise taxes.  The Shangri-La hotel room stay he reimbursed himself for with campaign funds. He told the media he was going for medical reasons, because he said media wouldn't question that.  He was actually in the Philippines carrying on his affair instead of doing his job," Manuel told KUAM News.

The alleged mistress is now employed by the congressman. Manuel told KUAM News he had intended to hire her since February of last year.

He said, "I argued with him constantly through the campaign about the unethical nature of that.  I tendered my resignation in April but he asked me to stay and he agreed not to involve me in their affair anymore.  He later continued to insist on my involvement."

Manuel alleges that in December the Congressman told him he would hire him during his second term but in the interim he allegedly arranged his lapses so that he could be transferred to work with Senator James Moylan.

"I did not accept the offer because I saw it as hush money. I never expected the offer as real, instead he just wanted my continued loyalty. I found another Senator to work for on my own merit," he said.

Coming forward with these serious allegations, we asked Manuel if he plans to file an ethics complaint

"Filing a House ethics complaint about the Congressman is still on the table, I just want to give him the opportunity to be honest.  I hope he can arrange with the FEC to repay the monies he used to pay for affair expenses and take a good hard look at his personal decisions," he said. "I think if he did, he can make it through this.  But the ball is in his court."

Manuel says he has no political agenda with coming forward with the allegations, noting, "I am campaigning for no one to replace him, I actually want him to be honest and work this out with proper officials.  There is nothing to gain with whistle blowing, this is actually probably damaging to my career, but I feel less burdened in my soul for telling the truth."

As for the Congressman, he has refused repeatedly to do interviews or share press releases, instead preferring Facebook over face time with KUAM.

We've also reached out to him once again for comment on this story, but we've not received a response. 

Senator Moylan meanwhile confirmed there was a discussion about picking up Manuel at his office, “but it never materialized as JP decided to work with another senator”. Manuel is currently employed as a policy analyst for Senator Amanda Shelton.