More conflict of interest concerns in NMI Impeachment trial

 

Over in the NMI, lawmakers continue to point just as many fingers as there are questions about conflicts of interests in the Senate impeachment trial of Governor Ralph Torres. 

"We hear some things today from several of the people providing testimony such as conflict of interest, such as yourself Mr. President," said Sen. Paul Manglona at Friday's special session. "It was pointed out that if this were to proceed, you would be Lt. governor and your salary is going to increase. It was mentioned, you were related to the governor's legal counsel. So why aren't you conflicted and why is Vinnie Sablan conflicted?"

Democrats mimicked a Republican move in the Senate impeachment trial of Governor Ralph Torres. Heated debate over conflicts of interest from the get-go at Friday's Senate hearing where the motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment argued by the governor's private attorney Anthony Aguon failed unopposed. 

Sen. Jude Hofschneider, cut Manglona off, saying, "I think we are done with your rant, with your diatribe. Your time on the floor is yielded."

Sparks flying as two Senators have already bowed out, Vinnie Sablan, Torres' running mate, and Justo Quitugua, who has family relations to the governor, were excused from the proceedings -- two republican votes likely to have brought the trial to a screeching halt. 

But perhaps one of the biggest alleged conflicts brought up repeatedly by the governor's attorneys is the involvement of Rep. Tina Sablan, a Democrat running for governor.

Attorney Anthony Aguon, who represents the governor, said, "This impeachment has garnered a huge amount of media attention. and has undoubtedly provided and continues to provide Tina Sablan with a free campaign platform for her candidacy"

Sablan maintains her position that her involvement is by the book. 

Rep. Tina Sablan said, "The governor's counsel said my name no less than 30 times in an hour during his presentation on Wednesday. My name appears no less than 60 times in the written motion. Nobody has given me more free, unwarranted media attention than Governor Torres and his counsel"

And the show will go on. She added, "I remain a legislator with a job to do and a constitutional oath to faithfully uphold."

That very oath is now at the center of a laundry list of legal battles being aired out on the island's executive seat. It's unclear if any more Senators will recuse themselves. KUAM reached out to Senator Hofschneider for comment. The Senate trial begins on May 13.