Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló Resigns amid Protests

Update 7/26/19: Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation on Wednesday in a video posted on Facebook. Rosselló, who is the U.S. commonwealth’s first governor to resign, resignation will be effective Aug. 2. Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez will become the new governor.

According to The New York Post, controversial Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló is expected to resign Wednesday.

What We Know:

• After two weeks of widespread protests due to his disrespectful and harmful chat messages with his advisors, Rosselló is finally stepping down. Sources told local newspaper El Nuevo Día that he plans to deliver a farewell announcement that will be broadcast before noon on Wednesday.
• Many of his advisors have already stepped down, including Chief of Staff Ricardo Llerandi, who resigned Tuesday amid concerns for the safety of his family after receiving threats. His resignation is effective July 31.
• On Tuesday, Puerto Rican officials placed search warrants for the mobile phones of Rosselló and 11 of his aides involved in the leaked Telegram message group chats. So far, Llerandi is the only one to comply with authorities.
• Rosselló will allegedly be replaced by Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez, but because of her ties to Rosselló the people still reject her and her standing. Despite not liking her, protestors have cheered over the fact that at least Rosselló will be gone.
• The position of governor usually would go to the Puerto Rico Secretary of State, but the position has been vacant since the recent resignation of Luis Rivera Marín.
• President Trump had his own comments about the controversy, stating at the White House Monday that “He’s a terrible governor. You have totally grossly incompetent leadership at the top of Puerto Rico…”
• No matter how much he apologizes, Rosselló’s time is up leading the country. “The people are talking and I have to listen,” Rosselló said in a statement Tuesday after apologizing several times for the chats and asking Puerto Ricans to give him another chance.

Puerto Rico deserves better.