President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, who pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation, according to a White House official.
Vázquez's case had garnered significant attention due to its high-profile nature and allegations of corruption. She was accused of accepting a promise from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign, which led to charges being brought against her in a federal investigation. The investigation involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker, who allegedly promised to support Vázquez's campaign if she dismissed the commissioner of financial institutions and appointed one of their own.
Vázquez had agreed to plead guilty to accepting a donation from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign, which was seen as a major concession. Her attorneys argued that prosecutors were violating a guilty plea deal reached last year, which included dropping previous charges against Vázquez.
Trump has indicated that he sees the case against Vázquez as a "political prosecution" and believes that the investigation into her began 10 days after she endorsed him in 2020. The official confirmed by name was not authorized to speak publicly about the pardon plan but said it was intended to protect Vázquez from prosecution.
The planned pardon has sparked outrage among some, including Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, who condemned it as "impunity" that protects and fosters corruption. The move is seen as undermining public integrity, shattering faith in justice, and offending those who believe in honest governance.
Vázquez was the first former governor of Puerto Rico to plead guilty to a crime and had served as governor from 2019 to 2021 after her predecessor resigned following massive protests. Her case has raised questions about corruption and accountability in politics, particularly on the island where she is a prominent figure.
In a statement, CBS News reported that Trump planned to pardon Vázquez, citing an unnamed White House official. The Associated Press confirmed this report and noted that the plan was first disclosed by CBS News.
Vázquez's case had garnered significant attention due to its high-profile nature and allegations of corruption. She was accused of accepting a promise from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign, which led to charges being brought against her in a federal investigation. The investigation involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker, who allegedly promised to support Vázquez's campaign if she dismissed the commissioner of financial institutions and appointed one of their own.
Vázquez had agreed to plead guilty to accepting a donation from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign, which was seen as a major concession. Her attorneys argued that prosecutors were violating a guilty plea deal reached last year, which included dropping previous charges against Vázquez.
Trump has indicated that he sees the case against Vázquez as a "political prosecution" and believes that the investigation into her began 10 days after she endorsed him in 2020. The official confirmed by name was not authorized to speak publicly about the pardon plan but said it was intended to protect Vázquez from prosecution.
The planned pardon has sparked outrage among some, including Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, who condemned it as "impunity" that protects and fosters corruption. The move is seen as undermining public integrity, shattering faith in justice, and offending those who believe in honest governance.
Vázquez was the first former governor of Puerto Rico to plead guilty to a crime and had served as governor from 2019 to 2021 after her predecessor resigned following massive protests. Her case has raised questions about corruption and accountability in politics, particularly on the island where she is a prominent figure.
In a statement, CBS News reported that Trump planned to pardon Vázquez, citing an unnamed White House official. The Associated Press confirmed this report and noted that the plan was first disclosed by CBS News.
... it seems like Trump is shielding his buddies from accountability, you know? #NotMyPresident Trump's actions are like a slap in the face to all those who value integrity and honest governance 
It's not right that Wanda Vázquez got off scot-free just because of her connections 
. Corruption is corruption, no matter how high up you are 
I mean, what's next? Is Trump going to pardon himself too? 
This pardon plan is like a recipe for disaster, and it's only going to fuel more outrage and mistrust in our system 
this pardon thingy is just so shady 
! Trump thinks he's above the law with this pardon but honestly, it's like he's giving a free pass to people who are guilty of corruption 
. This kind of move undermines public trust in government 
. And to make matters worse, it's like he's rewarding himself for endorsing her campaign 
I'm not sure what's going on with Trump pardoning Wanda Vázquez... it just seems like a huge mess to me 
. If he thinks it's a "political prosecution" then why is he stepping in? It feels like he's trying to cover his own backside and avoid any more drama 
.
. It's all about accountability and trust in the justice system, you know? And now Trump is basically saying that he's above that too 
.
. One minute you're celebrating a president doing something good for the country, the next minute they're doing something that makes everyone hate them again 
. What's going on with this guy?
It's like, come on man, we're not even talking about the good ol' days yet, what with the Black Lives Matter movement and all...
.
. But at the same time, I also understand why Trump might see it as a way to protect Vázquez from prosecution and avoid any potential embarrassment for himself or his administration 
. It feels like Trump is more worried about saving his buddy than doing what's right. And it's gonna send the wrong message - if he can just pardon someone for whatever they did, then no one will ever hold them accountable again! 
This is just going to make everyone lose faith in the justice system even more.
. If they're gonna let someone like Vázquez slide for corruption, what's next? It's just so frustrating when it feels like the system is rigged against us and all we see are people getting away with stuff 
