Propst turns over BOOST probe documents to House speaker

01/08/25 - House floor leader Edwin K. Propst yesterday transferred all the documents and information collected by the Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding pursuant to its legislative investigatory authority to the House of Representatives in the care of House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez.

In a letter to Villagomez, the Democrat lawmaker whose last day on the job was yesterday’s House sine die session, also described in detail the role of the special committee created to primarily investigate the distribution of Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Program of the administration of former governor Ralph DLG Torres. 

“The special committee, whose purpose was to gather information that would assist in the drafting of legislation relating to the proper use and distribution of federal funds, faced several challenges including the lack of cooperation of witnesses that were called to explain how federal funds were used and distributed and the false accusation that its existence was politically motivated,” he wrote.

Propst said these challenges eventually rose to the level of contempt of the Legislature, resulting in the pending criminal case in the CNMI Superior Court relating to Shayne Villanueva, BOOST program manager and Torres’ political associate.

“[He] was called to testify before the special committee but declined to answer even preliminary, non-incriminating questions concerning his educational background. In consideration of these foregoing issues and concerns, the special committee suspended its review until after the November 2024 mid-term elections and has not resumed its functions.”

Propst said this tender of information includes all documents and testimony that the special committee obtained through subpoenas and legislative investigatory meetings related to alleged misuse of federal funds received by Torres' administration, including but not limited to funds administered by programs such as BOOST program.

Specifically, documents turned over to Villagomez’s care include the following: 

• HSE. Comm. 23- 110 (April 3, 2024) 1 CMC 1306 (b) Certification of Contempt- David DLG Atalig;

• HSE. Comm. 23- 108 (March 15, 2024) 1 CMC 1306 (b) Certification of Contempt- Salina

• HSE. Comm. 23- 107 (March 15, 2024) 1 CMC 1306 (b) Certification of Contempt- Robert

• HSE. Comm. 23- 105 (March 8, 2024) 1 CMC 1306 (b) Certification of Contempt - Shayne

• HSE. Comm. 23-43 (May 9, 2023) Special Committee Organization and Request for

• HSE. Comm. 23-44 (May 10, 2023) Referral of Legislation(s) and Communication(s)

• HSE. Comm. 23-57 (Oct. 4, 2023) Submission of House Communication 22-121;

• HSE Comm. 23-58 (Oct. 5, 2023) Referral of House Communication No. 23-57

• HSE Comm. 22-121, (Jan. 4, 2022) Preliminary findings and referral for future consideration and action and all attachments;

• House Bill 23-9 "To require Legislative Appropriation for all Non-Locally Sourced Funds allocated for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."; and

• House Bill 23-49 "To provide the Legislature with access to Executive Branch financial information for budgeting, appropriation, and expenditure oversight."

Propst added that because the special committee was unable to complete the task of comprehensively reviewing and investigating the waste, fraud, and abuse of public funds, it also “respectfully and most strenuously recommends” that the Office of the Speaker transmit a copy of the same to legal authorities to include the CNMI Office of the Attorney General and the United States District Attorney's Office of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands for their respective investigation of possible fraud, theft, bribery, and other crimes relating to the misuse of federal funds.

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Story by Mark Rabago