The short version
- Jean Peña Payano stated the governor has not contacted any judge to pressure or influence any judicial decision and called the claims false and defamatory
- LUMA Energy president Janisse Quiñones requested an immediate, rigorous and transparent investigation into the allegations
- The claims were made Tuesday on the TeleOnce program Nación by attorney Eddie López Serrano citing an unnamed source
- LUMA said the matter transcends its case and affects confidence in the independence of Puerto Rico's judicial system
Denial from La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza rejected allegations that Governor Jenniffer González Colón communicated with Supreme Court justices to influence the outcome of the case involving the LUMA Energy contract. Metro Puerto Rico reported that Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano described the claims as "falsos y difamatorios" and said "ya no saben ni qué inventar."
Peña Payano's written statement came after LUMA demanded an investigation. According to NotiCel, the secretary repeated that the governor has not contacted any judge or justice to exert pressure or influence any judicial decision.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
La gobernadora no se ha comunicado con ningún juez o jueza para ejercer presión o influir en ninguna decisión judicial, ya no saben ni qué inventar. Esos señalamientos son falsos y difamatorios
Our translation: The governor has not communicated with any judge to exert pressure or influence any judicial decision, they no longer know what to invent. Those statements are false and defamatory.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
LUMA's position
LUMA Energy stated that its concern is not directed at the judges or the institution but arises from the seriousness of the allegations which, if confirmed, would affect public confidence in the independence of the judicial system. The company said it is not seeking special treatment or a particular outcome and that the controversy must be resolved through established legal mechanisms.
The operator of the electric grid added that the issue transcends the LUMA case. It noted that companies investing in Puerto Rico do so with the expectation that disputes will be handled through fair, independent and reliable processes, Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and NotiCel report the same denial from Jean Peña Payano using nearly identical quotes. Metro Puerto Rico provides more detail on LUMA's full statement and the origin of the allegations on the TeleOnce program Nación by Eddie López Serrano. NotiCel adds that LUMA president Janisse Quiñones made the request for an investigation this morning and that the source claimed the governor offered incentives for a ruling in favor of the government. The sources agree on the core facts and do not conflict.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not name the specific Supreme Court case, disclose whether any justices have responded to the allegations, or indicate if an investigation has been formally opened. They also do not identify Eddie López Serrano's source or provide any evidence supporting or refuting the claims of contact or offers made to justices.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official “Ya no saben ni qué inventar”, Fortaleza rechaza comunicación con jueces por caso de LUMA
- Reporting “Ya no saben ni qué inventar”, Fortaleza rechaza comunicación con jueces por caso de LUMA
- Reporting Fortaleza rechaza que la gobernadora haya tratado de influir en jueces del Supremo
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and NotiCel both covered La Fortaleza's categorical rejection and LUMA's call for an investigation. The account of the original allegations rests solely on the statements attributed to attorney Eddie López Serrano on the TeleOnce program.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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