Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro called for Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign amid mass protests following leaked documents revealing misogynistic and controversial remarks in private conversations.
“Americans in Puerto Rico are holding Governor @ricardorossello accountable for his disgraceful comments & corruption. I stand with the Puerto Ricans in the streets protesting for his resignation. Excessive force against them is not acceptable,” Castro wrote in a tweet Friday morning.
Americans in Puerto Rico are holding Governor @ricardorossello accountable for his disgraceful comments & corruption. I stand with the Puerto Ricans in the streets protesting for his resignation. Excessive force against them is not acceptable. https://t.co/8UzwhVYdhc
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) July 19, 2019
The former Obama housing secretary is the first U.S. presidential candidate to openly demand Rosselló’s resignation, but other contenders such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg tweeted expressions of solidarity with Puerto Ricans.
I stand with Puerto Ricans who are taking to the streets this week to protest government corruption & Governor @RicardoRossello‘s deeply offensive comments. His actions are hurtful & undermine the public trust. He must answer to the Puerto Rican people. https://t.co/ga3KpLNlJq
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 17, 2019
When the people of Puerto Rico speak, we must listen. I stand in solidarity with the people of #PuertoRico as they continue to demand transparency and accountability. Our fellow U.S. citizens deserve a government they can trust.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) July 18, 2019
The leaked messages provided by the Center for Investigative Journalism disclose several controversial statements made by Rosselló to Cabinet members and senior advisers. The governor reportedly wrote of the federal board managing the Puerto Rican financial crisis, “Dear Oversight Board, Go F— Yourself.” He also made disparaging remarks about women in Puerto Rican politics and made a homophobic comment toward pop singer Ricky Martin.
The governor also joked about a comment one Puerto Rican official made about killing the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz. Rosselló responded, saying “You’d be doing me a big favor.”
Several cabinet members and officials have resigned in the wake of the mass protests over the private chats, including Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marín.
So far, Rosselló has refused to step down.
“Despite the difficulties that we have internal and external, the work will continue and the agenda will be completed in all areas, social, educational, safety, health, infrastructure, recovery and everything related to the financial situation that is a high priority among others,” Rosselló said. “You do not give up on work already started, and today, more than ever, a lot of people are counting on my commitment to do so.”
