Travilla, Sapp cited for contempt again

A House of Representatives special committee has found Robert Travilla and his business partner, Salina Sapp, on three separate contempt citations for refusing to answer any questions relating to the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together grant program.

In response to Saipan Tribune’s question, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan), who chairs the Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-related Funding, said yesterday they found Travilla and Sapp in three separate contempt citations.

Travilla and Sapp are vice president and president of Nonstop Corp, respectively. Together with Shayne Villanueva, of Roil Soil, they were in charge of marketing the BOOST Program.

Yumul said the three motions refer to contempt for failure to respond to investigatory questions, contempt for not providing chat messages, which violates the subpoena, and perjury for not providing the chat messages to committee members.

When asked why the committee voted again yesterday on the contempt citations when they already voted to find the two in contempt last Friday, Yumul said they needed to put the vote on their agenda.

All six committee members present at the meeting yesterday afternoon voted “yes” to the motions to find Travilla and Sapp in three separate contempt. They are Yumul, Rep. Marissa Renee Flores (Ind-Saipan), vice chair Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan), Rep. Diego Vincent F. Camacho (D-Saipan), Rep. Angelo A. Camacho (Ind-Saipan), and Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan).

Rep. John Paul P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) and Rep. Vincent S. Aldan (Ind-Saipan) were absent, but excused. Yumul said he has not heard from Rep. Vicente C. Camacho (D-Saipan).

The hearing will continue today, Tuesday, at 10am, with former Department of Finance secretary David DLG. Atalig set to testify.

At yesterday special committee meeting, it was Flores who made to motion to find Travilla in contempt. Flores said the committee has repeatedly asked Travilla questions and he has repeatedly refused to testify under oath, at the advice of his lawyer.

She said some questions to which Travilla failed to answer were not even incriminating and were preliminary in nature.

Flores moved to find Travilla in contempt in violation of the subpoena that asked him to provide any communications between Nonstop Corp. and William Castro. Castro was the chief of staff of then-governor Ralph DLG. Torres.

Flores said the subpoena specifically sought records related to the BOOST Program, including all contracts, invoices, and related documents. She said this includes administration, marketing, advertising, event planning, or other aspects of the program.

Flores said the subpoena also requested documents records and communications, including emails and text messages, and correspondences from June 1, 2022, to the present regarding businesses or individuals and/or any other booths related business.

Flores also moved to find Travilla in contempt pursuant to the legislative subpoenas issued to the witness and Nonstop Corp.

She said Travilla was required to provide documents, records and communications, including text messages, correspondences from June 1, 2022 to the present regarding BOOST Program-related business.

Flores said Travilla testified under oath during Thursday’s hearing that he had submitted all relevant documents.

Despite that, Flores said, Travilla had not, in fact, submitted all relevant documents. She said this is evidenced by the committee presenting Travilla a copy of BOOST-related WhatsApp messages from a WhatsApp group he had created.

She said not only has Travilla perjured himself by lying under oath about the existence of these BOOST-related messages, but he is also in contempt for his failure to provide or inform the committee of the existence of these communications.

With respect to Sapp, who is the president of Nonstop Corp., Flores moved to find the witness in contempt for repeatedly refusing to testify under oath. She also cited Sapp for violations that were essentially similar to the alleged violations of Travilla.

Flores also moved to find Sapp in contempt after she failed or refused to respond when asked about the existence of the WhatsApp messages in the chat group that Travilla allegedly created.

Flores moved that the committee transmit a report to the House and have Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) certify the statement of contempt so that the CNMI Attorney General can prosecute Travilla and Sapp.

Marissa Renee Flores

Ralph N. Yumul