Villanueva's bench trial begins

01/27/25 - The bench trial for former Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability program contractor Shayne Villanueva began in Superior Court in Saipan on Monday morning.

The case originated in March 2024 after the CNMI House of Representatives held Villanueva in contempt for not directly answering some of their questions amid a legislative probe into the federally funded “Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Together” program. Villanueva was involved in the BOOST Fisher, Farmer, and Ranchers program, which reportedly provided $500 in assistance to more than 300 individuals.

Lawmakers at the time formed a special committee in the House to look into all federal funding coming into the CNMI. The American Rescue Plan Act, totaling $481M, was used to fund BOOST, which was meant to support businesses during the COVID pandemic under former governor Ralph DLG Torres.

Chief solicitor Robby Glass Jr. is prosecuting the case and argued in his opening statement that the Legislature is exercising its duty in conducting oversight hearings. Glass said there are “481 million reasons,” alluding to the amount of ARPA funds the CNMI received, that Villanueva should be found guilty. He focused on four of those reasons, citing the four questions that Villanueva responded to by invoking the 5th Amendment. He also argued that the questions were not self-incriminating. 

Villanueva maintains his innocence and asserts his 5th Amendment right. He is represented by attorneys Jack Torres, Victorino Torres, and Keith Chambers. The “Torres Brothers” also represent the former governor in his pending criminal case related to first-class travel.

In his opening remarks, Attorney Jack Torres said, “If you cannot legislate the funds, you cannot investigate the funds.” ARPA was given to states and territories with the power for the governor to allocate the funds signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.

CNMI House sergeant-at-arms Peter Towai was the first to take the stand. He spoke about the legislative subpoena that he delivered to Villanueva and his attorney. Rep. Blas Jonathan “BJ” T. Attao also took the stand and spoke about the events leading up to the contempt charge.

House Speaker Edmund Villagomez was the next witness called after lunch as they resumed at 1:30pm on Monday. Other witnesses who appeared in court and waited to be called to the stand are former representatives Vicente Camacho and Edwin K. Propst, Reps. Marissa Flores, Joel Camacho, and Ralph Yumul, and attorney James Kingman.

The CNMI government rested Monday afternoon. The defense made a motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing that the CNMI House does not have jurisdiction over the ARPA funds used for BOOST. The judge denied the motion.

The defense called Attorney James Kingman as their first witness this afternoon.

They will continue the trial on Wednesday at 10 a.m. as Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo informed the parties he will be taking Tuesday off because it is his 80th birthday. 

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Story by Thomas Manglona II