A quick #rickyrenuncia take before the prerecorded message drops:
Rosselló *should’ve* resigned immediately after publication of the chat portion where he maligned Viverito, never mind the full chat.
By firing SecState Rivera Marín and not immediately nominating a consensus successor, Rosselló pulled the pin on everything that ensued thereafter: the disruptions to tourism, the protests, the loss of credibility in D.C.- everything. 100% on him.
Instead, we have a drawn-out process where Rosselló tries to Northam his way out of a crippling scandal, but ends up completely misreading the mood on the ground.
The best of the bad options before us today remains for Rosselló to announce resignation effective upon confirmation of a consensus SecState nominee, and it would have to be someone untainted by scandal or by belonging to the current administration.
Alternatively, Rosselló could resign effective immediately, which hands the governorship over to AG Wanda Vázquez. That would be problematic.
Vázquez might have committed impeachable offenses of her own, based on the devastating @cpipr report. Under this scenario, protests and disruptions to commerce are highly likely to continue.
Additionally, this administration faces several other federal investigations, as well as prosecutions already underway. Among others:
Dept of Education scandal
HHS (ASES scandal)
SDNY RICO investigation
PREPA (?)
There are also court matters involving PROMESA, including upcoming oral arguments before SCOTUS on PR’s appeal of the 1st Circuit’s decision in re Aurelius. If SCOTUS upholds Aurelius, PROMESA could be found to be unconstitutional.
Such a decision, coupled with further disruptions, could lead Congress to reassert its full Article IV powers over Puerto Rico’s government. (Governor Mick Mulvaney, anyone?)
By the way, we’re approaching peak Atlantic hurricane season.
All this is to say that this isn’t ending quickly, no matter what happens. (end)
Needless to say, Rosselló staying on and daring the Legislature to impeach is the absolute worst scenario.
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