Elizabeth Warren became the latest Democratic presidential candidate to call for the resignation of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
The Massachusetts senator follows the lead of former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in calling for the U.S. territory’s chief executive to step aside amid growing controversy.
“I’ve been standing with the people of Puerto Rico in their protests against corruption and their governor’s behavior. The people have spoken—loud and clear: @ricardorossello should resign,” Warren tweeted Friday.
I’ve been standing with the people of Puerto Rico in their protests against corruption and their governor’s behavior. The people have spoken—loud and clear: @RicardoRossello should resign. https://t.co/cdqSC59GlM
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 19, 2019
Castro said earlier Friday that Rosselló could “no longer be effective” and should step down.
Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii, tweeted about it Thursday. “Hawaii and Puerto Rico share many of the same experiences and stories. I stand with Puerto Ricans demanding change, who have had enough of government corruption, and who deserve a government of, by, and FOR the people,” she said, before adding in Spanish, “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. #RickyRenuncia.” That translates to: “The people united will never be defeated. #RickyResignation.”
Hawaii and Puerto Rico share many of the same experiences and stories. I stand with Puerto Ricans demanding change, who have had enough of government corruption, and who deserve a government of, by, and FOR the people. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. #RickyRenuncia pic.twitter.com/6flI25WJfv
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) July 19, 2019
Warren’s voice in the matter adds greater pressure on Rosselló, as she polls way ahead of the other two candidates in most 2020 polls. In the RealClearPolitics average of polls, Warren has 14.6% support, good enough for third place, while Castro has 0.6% and Gabbard has 1.0%.
The calls for Rosselló’s resignation are increasing following leaked private chat messages between the governor and male members of his administration in which they made vulgar comments about women, political opponents, and victims of Hurricane Maria. His administration was already reeling after the FBI arrested two former Puerto Rican officials earlier this month on corruption charges over the misuse of millions in federal funding in the last two years.
Over the past week protesters have taken to the streets outside the governor’s mansion to demand his resignation. Among the high-profile celebrities who have joined the demonstrations in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the United States are Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda and singer Ricky Martin, who was the subject of some of the messages.
Cheers after protestors announced Gov. Rossello’s press secretary resigned. They are now chanting, “It’s your turn Ricky.” pic.twitter.com/0iltOFod3a
— Leyla Santiago (@leylasantiago) July 20, 2019
President Trump also has reacted to the growing controversy. In a pair of tweets Thursday noting that the governor is “under siege,” he lamented all the “bad things” in Puerto Rico, including political rival Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, and government corruption.
Rosselló has apologized for the messages but refuses to step down, but his press secretary became the latest Puerto Rican official to step down on Friday night with a statement that discussed how someone called her “corrupt” in front of her son.
“Here I draw the line. My son is my life,” she wrote in her resignation letter.
