Domenech and Garcia Leave La Fortaleza Under Corruption Probe -- and the Governor Already Has a Replacement

Governor Jenniffer González Colón announced on Monday, July 21, the departure of her two most trusted officials: Secretary of the Governor's Office Francisco Domenech and Deputy Secretary Itza García, amid active investigations by the Panel on the Independent Special Prosecutor (PFEI) ¹. Domenech will leave office on August 7 and García on August 15.

The announcement was made from La Fortaleza's Teatrito (small theater), with more than a dozen agency heads present, but without allowing press questions ². The governor praised both officials, stating that she "will not allow the work being done to be silenced," and confirmed that Domenech will transition to directing her political campaign ³.

The crisis that started in May

The scandal erupted on May 26 when Sebastián Negrón Reichard resigned as Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), accusing La Fortaleza of interfering with the agency's work ⁴. More than 10 DDEC officials -- including the chief of staff, general counsel, and finance chief -- also resigned.

Negrón Reichard filed a 58-page sworn declaration with the PFEI detailing the allegations ⁵. Among the most serious claims:

• Pressure on the RFP-DDEC-OGPe-2026-06 process: Evaluation committee members were allegedly pressured to favor JJ Investment Group's proposal in a federally funded contract auction.
• Politank conflict: Domenech founded the lobbying firm Politank before taking public office. The declaration alleges the firm sought meetings starting in May 2025 to manage tax credits related to tourism activities at the Convention Center, with participation from its CEO Manuel Torres Nieves and advisor Kenneth McClintock Hernández.
• Opus Miramar project: A $300 million investment that requested $120 million in tax credits under Law 60, allegedly with Domenech's intervention, who reportedly said the matter had "already been discussed with La Fortaleza" ⁵.
• Pressure involving García: The deputy secretary allegedly pressured Negrón Reichard to appoint the wife of Politank's president to the Office of Permit Management (OGPe) ¹.

Domenech responded with his own sworn statements accusing Negrón Reichard of five instances of conflict of interest that would have benefited clients linked to his grandfather's law firm by more than $74 million ⁶.

Federal reach

The case reached Washington. On June 17, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) questioned Governor González during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources about possible misuse of federal funds sent to Puerto Rico ⁷. The governor responded: "There is no evidence of that."

In addition to the PFEI investigation, Puerto Rico's Office of Government Ethics, the Department of Justice, and the FBI are involved in the inquiries ¹.

What comes next at La Fortaleza

The governor confirmed she has already selected Domenech's replacement, though she did not reveal the name, saying only: "The person is already chosen." Candidates mentioned in the press include Gabriella Boffelli, Arthur Garffer, Orlando Rivera Berríos, and Jean Peña Payano ³. She also announced that the roles of Secretary of the Governor's Office and Executive Director of the Fiscal Advisory Authority (AAFAF) will be separated -- Domenech held both positions simultaneously.

What this means for you

This crisis directly affects how construction permits, tax credits, and federal funds are managed in Puerto Rico. If the allegations are true, politically connected individuals would have been favored in auction processes that should be transparent and competitive, harming businesses that play by the rules.

It also calls into question oversight of billions in federal reconstruction funds -- a concern that reached the U.S. Senate floor.

How to act / Checklist

1. Check the PFEI investigation status on its official portal (pfei.pr.gov) to follow the case's progress.
2. If you have a pending permit or application before OGPe, verify there are no delays linked to the restructuring.
3. Review the published sworn declarations -- they are available through public information requests.
4. Contact your legislator if you are concerned about federal fund use in your municipality.
5. Register on the Legislature's notification portal (oslpr.org) to receive alerts about related public hearings.

What comes next

Domenech departs August 7 and García on August 15. The formal appointment of the new Secretary of the Governor's Office is expected in the coming days. The PFEI has assigned prosecutors with a 45-day window to complete the investigative phase, meaning preliminary results could be known before September. The separation of the AAFAF and Governor's Office roles will be key in determining whether the González administration can restore institutional trust.

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Sources

¹ ABC News / Associated Press, "Two of Puerto Rico's top government officials to step down as corruption allegations persist," July 21, 2026 ² El Nuevo Día, "Jenniffer González announces the departure of Francisco Domenech and Itza García from the Secretary of the Governor's Office," July 21, 2026 ³ El Nuevo Día, "Jenniffer González has already chosen Domenech's replacement and says the next chief will not also head AAFAF," July 2026 ⁴ Diario Libre, "Sebastián Negrón resigns as DDEC secretary in Puerto Rico," May 26, 2026 ⁵ El Diario NY, "What do the sworn declarations of the former DDEC secretary say against Francisco Domenech," July 10, 2026 ⁶ El Nuevo Día, "Francisco Domenech files sworn declarations against Sebastián Negrón for alleged acts of corruption," July 2026 ⁷ Univision Puerto Rico, "Accusations against Francisco Domenech reach the U.S. Congress," July 2026