Lawmakers Request DOJ Investigation into Alleged Election Fraud Scheme

Five members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, have requested an investigation from the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General regarding the abandonment of a federal probe into a prison drugs-for-votes scheme. In a letter dated May 20, they expressed concerns over credible allegations of election fraud and emphasized the need for transparency to maintain public confidence in democratic institutions. The request follows a ProPublica report detailing how prosecutors had uncovered a scheme involving a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons, which allegedly coerced inmates to vote for certain candidates. The lawmakers criticized the Justice Department's decision to halt the investigation into potential political ties, particularly those involving now-Governor Jenniffer González-Colón. They noted that this decision contradicts the Trump administration's stated priorities on election integrity. The letter was addressed to acting inspector general Don Berthiaume, with the expectation that the investigation will provide clarity on the Justice Department's actions. González-Colón has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. An indictment related to the gang's activities was filed in December 2024, but it did not include charges concerning the drugs-for-votes scheme.