House panel investigating BOOST Program to discuss subpoena for local media

Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan), who chairs the House of Representative committee that is looking into the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together grant program, has called for a meeting this Thursday to decide on how to move forward with their investigation, including talks about possibly calling in the local media.

Yumul told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the meeting of the Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding is more procedural since everyone has responded through their attorneys. Included in the meeting’s agenda under new business are subpoenas for the newspapers Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune, and radio station KKMP.

The BOOST Program bought promotional spaces and placed ads on local newspapers and the radio station.

The committee is also expected to discuss during the meeting an update on documents requested from Saipan World Resort’s response letter and other communication documents.

Yumul earlier stated that the committee’s hearing may resume in 2024 after three contractors asked for a 30-day extension in order to produce the documents the committee had subpoenaed.

The BOOST Program used $17 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that, according to some House members, were handed out to many of the previous administration’s cronies.