Puerto Ricans demand governor’s job
Leak of offensive texts sets off days of protests
Thousands of Puerto Ricans took to the streets Monday as Gov. Ricardo Rosselló clung to his job amid a deepening scandal involving vulgar text messages that fueled intense emotions across the island.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters overwhelmed the expressway into San Juan a day after Rosselló announced he would not seek reelection but refused to resign.
President Donald Trump joined the chorus, calling the U.S. territory’s leadership “corrupt and incompetent.”
Rosselló’s boyish charm and dogged determination helped him survive controversies surrounding Hurricane Maria, which ripped the island apart in 2017, and a series of corruption scandals. “Chatgate” is proving his most difficult hurdle.
Monday marked the 10th consecutive day of protests.
The scandal involves the leak of more than 800 pages that include profanitylaced, misogynistic texts and online chats with male members of his administration.
Mario Negrón Portillo, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico’s school of public administration, told The Guardian that Rosselló had a reputation as a meek family man. The language revealed in the texts rocked the island of more than 3 million people, he said.
“Everyone woke up one day, and the governor was spouting vulgarities,” Negrón said. “There’s nothing worse for a politician than losing legitimacy. I think Ricardo Rosselló has lost legitimacy.”
The controversy began less than two weeks ago when Rosselló associates were arrested on corruption charges. Then, the texts emerged, and a few days later, Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism published 889 pages.
Rosselló’s targets included former New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz.
Rosselló, upset that Mark-Viverito challenged Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez’s support for statehood for Puerto Rico, called her a “whore.” When a colleague texted that he was “salivating to shoot” the mayor, Rosselló responded that he would consider it a favor.
Rosselló and his associates made light of residents’ suffering after Maria and used vulgar language regarding a federal board overseeing the island’s finances. Even Puerto Rican musical star Ricky Martin was not spared: A Rosselló associate used tasteless language to describe Martin’s homosexuality.
Rosselló apologized shortly after the information became public. “I’m the governor of Puerto Rico, but I’m a human being who has his faults,” he said.
Under Puerto Rican law, the secretary of state would be next in line if Rosselló succumbed to the pressure to depart. But Luis Rivera Marín resigned his post amid the controversy. That means Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez would get the job.
Apologies failed to curb the crisis, and protests have grown. Last week, protests were led by unionized workers accompanied by horseback riders and a caravan of thousands of motorcyclists. Sunday, kayakers made their statement from the waters.
Rosselló also has drawn ire on the mainland; “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was among protesters gatherer last week in New York. Contributing: Susan Miller; The Associated Press