CNMI Governor Torres Faces Criminal Charges and Impeachment Trial

Governor Torres Accused of Misconduct in Public Office, Theft, and Contempt

Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Ralph Torres, was hit with a new set of legal challenges on Friday when he was criminally charged with 13 counts: 12 counts of misconduct in public office, one count of theft, and one count of contempt. The charges were filed by the CNMI Office of the Attorney General.

Misusing Taxpayer Funds and Failing to Appear in Court

The criminal complaint against Torres includes allegations that he misused taxpayer funds for luxury airline tickets for himself and his wife between April and December 2018, totaling more than $20,000. The governor is also accused of unlawfully failing to appear before the court in December 2021 after being subpoenaed.

Attorney General Comments on the Charges

Attorney General Edward Manibusan stated that the charges follow months of thorough investigation by the Office of the Attorney General Investigator Division. Manibusan remained tight-lipped on further comments due to the active nature of the case.

Criminal Charges Precede Impeachment Trial

These criminal charges come as the CNMI Senate is preparing for Torres’ impeachment trial, which was initiated on January 12, 2022. Torres, 42, has been impeached on charges of felony, neglect of duty, and corruption, including living an extravagant lifestyle while the islands faced a super typhoon and a pandemic.

CNMI Lawmakers React to Charges

Celina Babauta, Judiciary and Governmental Operations Chairwoman

CNMI House members have reacted to the criminal charges with relief and encouragement as the impeachment process remains contentious due to political controversy and procedural complications. Judiciary and Governmental Operations Chairwoman Celina Babauta thanked the Office of the Attorney General for acting against the governor:

My colleagues and I have maintained that no person is above the law. We wholeheartedly thank the Office of the Attorney General for acting in the interest of justice for our people. The charges filed in Superior Court this afternoon give us hope as a Commonwealth.

Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao, Vice-Speaker

Vice-Speaker Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao appreciated the community’s patience and the hard work of CNMI lawmakers:

This has been a difficult journey for the people of the CNMI who have been patiently waiting for something to come of the investigatory process. This is truly a step toward achieving justice.

Tina Sablan, CNMI Representative

Rep. Tina Sablan, who emphasized the overlap between the impeachment proceedings and the criminal charges, hoped that the Senate would reconsider their decision to bypass the House prosecutors and the Impeachment Record during the trial:

We hope this development will encourage the Senate to revisit their decision to proceed with the impeachment trial without any House prosecutors or the Impeachment Record.

Previous CNMI Governor Faced Similar Situation

Torres becomes the second CNMI governor to face impeachment in the past nine years and the second governor of a U.S. territory to be charged. An impeachment trial in the Senate could potentially result in the removal of the sitting CNMI governor from office.