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Puerto Rico ex-governor acquitted on corruption charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A federal jury at the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico on Friday found former Puerto Rican governor Anibal Acevedo Vila not guilty on nine counts of conspiracy, false statements, and wire fraud, among other crimes. The charges stem from alleged violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act during Vila's 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 campaigns to become Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner in the US House of Representatives and his 2004 gubernatorial campaign. In the original indictment, prosecutors accused Vila and twelve others of authorizing illegal and unreported contributions to pay off debts in excess of $500,000 incurred during Vila's campaigns. Vila is a member of the Popular Democratic Party, which does not support full US statehood for the Commonwealth. In 2004, Vila narrowly defeated former governor and pro-statehood candidate Pedro Rossello in a disputed gubernatorial election. It is believed that Vila lost his bid for a second gubernatorial term in November due to the corruption charges.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 21, 2009 (boomark / email).