Yumul to subpoena Naked Fish, Hafa Adai Roasting
The House of Representatives special committee that is investigating the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together grant program has decided to issue subpoenas to the owners of Naked Fish Bar and Grill and Hafa Adai Roasting Company.
During the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-related Funding’s meeting on Friday, Rep. Marissa Renee Flores (Ind-Saipan) moved to authorize committee chair Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) to issue subpoenas to get documents from the owner of Transcends LLC, which does business as Naked Fish Bar and Grill, and Hafa Adai Roasting Co. and its owner, John Lee, to testify at a date and time set by Yumul.
Committee members did not discuss why they need to issue subpoenas to the two entities. Yumul, however, told Saipan Tribune last night that the two companies hosted a BOOST event.
All six committee members present at the meeting voted “yes” to issue the subpoena. Three members were absent.
Committee members did not talk about why they need to subpoena the two private entities.
The committee hearing will start on March 5, 2024, at 10am with the testimony of Shayne Villanueva of Roil Soil. Villanueva, together with Robert Travilla, and Salina Sapp, are the former contractors hired to promote the BOOST Program. Travilla and Sapp are set to testify for March 2, 8, and possibly 11, 2024, at 10am.
The previous Torres administration used $17 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the BOOST program.
Ralph N. Yumul
