FBI Summons Puerto Rico Governor's Former Campaign Treasurer - II

FBI Summons Puerto Rico Governor's Former Campaign Treasurer - II

June 30, 2006 Melissa Correa Velázquez
Posted on 06/30/2006 8:03:17 AM

Ramón "Moncho" Velasco, former campaign treasurer for [Governor] Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, stated in a press release that he has cooperated with federal authorities regarding the Grand Jury's investigation of donations the former Resident Commissioner's campaign committee received in 2002.

"I am neither hiding nor missing. As always, I have been working in my profession every day. Concerning the U.S. Attorney's office investigation of the Honorable Aníbal Acevedo Vilá's Resident Commisioner campaign finances, the only comment we have is that there has been full cooperation with that investigation, since we have absolutely nothing to hide or fear," Velasco affirmed in the written statement sent to EL VOCERO.

The attorney added that "I have no family relations with Mr. Jorge Velasco Mella or Dr. Cándido Negrón. We will make no further comments while the process has not ended."

Meanwhile, [Puerto Rico] FBI Director Luis Fraticelli released his usual statement yesterday afternoon through his press spokesman Luis Rivera Santana neither confirming nor denying that Velasco had been interviewed. He pointed out that it was logical to interrogate all people related to this investigation.

"The FBI can neither confirm nor deny reports related to the identity of persons who are investigated or interviewed. Conducting interviews is a basic investigative technique the FBI uses in most cases. It is quite common for the FBI to attempt to interview all persons who are logically associated with a criminal investigation. The FBI certainly wishes to interview any person who is willing to cooperate in the investigative efforts," Fraticelli stated.

For his part, during an interview with WKAQ Radio Reloj, Acevedo urged Velasco to provide the authorities all the information that is requested from him.

"I know attorney Ramón Velasco for many, many years, and everything I have heard and known about Ramón Velasco is good, everything. What is being alleged seems to me unfounded. My statement to him is that, if he is being asked for information somewhere, let him give all the information because I am sure there is nothing to hide," the Governor declared.

Upon being asked if he has contacted Velasco, the Chief Executive replied that he met him at a social activity recently but that they did not speak about the matter.

"I met with him at a social activity the other day. We greeted each other, but I haven't talked to him about the matter. All I know about him is good. He should be calm," said Acevedo, who denied being worried about looking affected.

On the other hand, New Progressive Party Senator and former gubernatorial candidate Pedro Rosselló considered the allegations against Acevedo "serious". "I think that, to Puerto Rico's disgrace, this is a first in the political history of Puerto Rico that a Governor is being investigated and possibly found guilty of committing a crime. They are very serious. Governors in other states have been removed or have resigned over similar allegations. It happens with a person who the federal court has already found involved in fabricating cases against political adversaries," he affirmed during an interview with WAPA Radio.

[Rosselló] added that "I am not going to pass judgement at this time because I understand that some have talked about the possiblity of an impeachment process and, in that process, the Senate becomes judge, and a decision is taken at that time which I cannot adjudicate in advance."