Committee to summon Taisague, others to testify
Members of the House of Representatives special committee that is investigating the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Together, or BOOST program, agreed yesterday to summon former Department of Commerce Economic Development director Jesus Taisague and others who received BOOST monies, to testify.
All five members of the Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding present at a meeting yesterday also voted “yes” to two motions to find former Department of Finance secretary David DLG. Atalig in contempt.
Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan), who is the vice chair of the special committee, presided over the meeting.
The committee members agreed to authorize committee chair Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) to issue subpoenas to Taisague, “Alexandria” Yuan Ying, and Kevin C. Guerrero to testify at a date and time to be set by Yumul.
Taisague, who served as a member of the BOOST program review panel, partly owns Elite Group LLC, which does business as Lovebirds Restaurant on Tinian.
Jing is reportedly part-owner of Elite Group LLC and owns Flower Tea House, Saipan Goddess, and Saipan Horse Course in Kagman.
Guerrero reportedly owns COVID-Care Force Micronesia and Saipan Renal Care.
With respect to Atalig, it was Rep. Marissa Renee Flores (Ind-Saipan) who moved to find the former Finance secretary in contempt. Flores said Atalig has repeatedly refused to testify under oath, and that his failure to respond is in violation of the law
Flores also moved to find Atalig in contempt for disrespecting the investigative committee by unlawfully, knowingly, and willfully interfering directly with the operation and function of an investigating committee.
She said as seen through his testimony, and the exhibits presented in committee, Atalig has clearly interfered with the lawful performance of the officers of the 22nd CNMI Legislature’s joint Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee, and Ways and Means Committee.
Flores said Atalig directed lawfully subpoenaed individuals, such as Bank of Saipan president John Arroyo to not respond to the joint JGO and Ways and Means committees’ investigatory subpoenas.
As such, Flores said, Atalig has obstructed a legislative investigation and is in contempt.
She moved that the special committee transmit a report to House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) and send a statement of contempt to the CNMI attorney general for further prosecution in the Superior Court.
All five members present at the meeting voted “yes” to Flores’ motions. Four members were absent.
Flores further clarified that the special committee had asked Atalig about the evidence in this legislative term and he refused to answer any questions about the matter.
Flores said her second motion pertains to not just the obstruction of the 22nd JGO and Ways and Means Committees.
“It was this special committee that was also obstructed and I just want to make that very clear in case it may be challenged,” she pointed out.
Atalig recently appeared before the special committee and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in responding to most of the questions relating to the BOOST program.
Last March 13, the committee also voted to find Atalig in contempt when the former secretary repeatedly refused to testify under oath.
Flores said such failure to respond is in violation of the law.
Edwin K. Propst
