Puerto Rico's Ex-Governor Set for Pardon Amid Controversy

Former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez is about to receive a pardon from President Donald Trump. This news comes after Vázquez admitted to a campaign finance violation. The case also involves a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker. Vázquez's legal team argued that the prosecutors were being too harsh. They wanted her to serve a year in prison. Her lawyers said this was unfair because she only agreed to plead guilty to accepting a promise of a campaign donation that never actually happened. The White House believes the case was politically motivated. They point out that the investigation started just 10 days after Vázquez publicly supported Trump in 2020. Not everyone is happy with this decision. Pablo José Hernández, a Puerto Rico Congress representative, spoke out against the pardon. He said it would encourage corruption and weaken public trust in the justice system.Vázquez made history as the first former governor of Puerto Rico to plead guilty to a crime. She was also the second woman to hold the governor's office. Her time as governor was short and controversial. She took over after massive protests led to the resignation of her predecessor, Ricardo Rosselló. The case against Vázquez involves some serious allegations. Authorities say she was part of a bribery scheme. She allegedly accepted a promise of campaign support from a Venezuelan banker. In exchange, she was supposed to fire a government official and replace them with someone the banker preferred. Vázquez's legal troubles began in August 2022 when she was arrested. She has maintained her innocence throughout the process. The sentencing was scheduled for later this month, but the pardon changes everything.