By The Star Staff
Nina Valedón Santiago, the Popular Democratic Party candidate for the Humacao District seat in the island Senate, requested on Tuesday that the FBI investigate an alleged investment of $2 million in a company that manages pop music artist Bad Bunny by individuals associated with the regime of Venezuela’s authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro.
“This referral to the FBI is being made due to the risk that a foreign government would pose if it interfered in the democratic process of Puerto Rico and the United States through investments in artists or influencers,” said Valedón, a former PDP deputy secretary general who is also a member of the party’s governing board, emphasizing “the importance of maintaining integrity in Puerto Rico’s financial and political system.”
“We cannot allow money from oppressive and corrupt regimes to influence our society,” Valedón said. “In Puerto Rico, unlike Venezuela, we all have freedom of expression. It is our responsibility to protect the democracy and freedom of our people. Just as we demand explanations when the NPP [New Progressive Party] changes its mind about LUMA [Energy, the embattled private operator of the island’s fragile electric power transmission and distribution system], after those close to the company donated to its campaign, we also demand answers about who finances those who seek to influence our elections.”
The candidate urged citizens to be vigilant in protecting the U.S. commonwealth’s democratic values.
“Transparency and accountability are essential to building a better future for all of us,” Valedón said.
Media outlets such as Bloomberg Línea, Noticel and others have reported that Rafael Jiménez Dan, who they identify as the former vice minister of legal security in the regime of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez between 2006 and 2013 and a former military man, invested at least $2 million in Rimas, the company in charge of Bad Bunny’s career, suggesting that such a sizable investment could mean Jiménez Dan is a partner in the firm.
Comentarios