James Robert Kingman
THE head of the government’s anti-corruption task force, Assistant Attorney General James Robert Kingman, said he has “faced baseless, and bad faith accusations since arriving in the CNMI.”
Kingman also disagreed with Superior Court Judge Kenneth L. Govendo’s comments directed at the assistant AG at the conclusion of the bench trial of Shayne B. Villanueva, who was charged with contempt of the Legislature.
The judge found Villanueva not guilty on Jan. 29, after a two-day trial. The judge also noted that Kingman “is a liability to this government. He is arrogant, he thinks he is omnipotent, and maybe it is time for him to head back to Texas.”
Asked for comment, Kingman said, “I disagree. … Since I am appealing the prior sanction he levied against me after being transferred [from] the case, I cannot speak further [regarding] Judge Govendo’s conduct. He is certainly not the first person working for the CNMI government who has told me to leave. I doubt that he will be the last.”
“I certainly am saddened to hear that I am considered arrogant,” Kingman added. “I do not know what he is basing that on. I have never had a conversation with him nor been able to address his court. When people indicate a behavior I have done that is harmful to them, I try to make amends and correct it. It is hard to do that if I am not given any feedback,” he said.
“As far as ‘omnipotence,’ I strongly disagree with that. Normal investigatory powers and support have been stripped away and blockaded consistently. I can’t even get phone calls and emails returned, let alone wield power. The thing that I actually think is that I am powerless to do what I have been asked to do. I wish that I was in a position where I could defend my actions, but I have had to face baseless, bad-faith accusations since I arrived here. If I am not allowed to counter that narrative, others should.”
Kingman initially prosecuted Villanueva’s case, but was disqualified by Judge Govendo, who granted the defense’s cross-motion to recuse the assistant AG, stating, “Kingman should not remain the prosecutor for this matter to ensure procedural integrity and due process for all parties throughout the court.”
After the trial, the prosecutor, Chief Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr., issued the following statement: “The Commonwealth is disappointed with the outcome of the case but respects the Judge’s decision. The Commonwealth thanks Judge Govendo for taking on a difficult case and for his service. The Office of the Attorney General remains committed to its constitutional duty to prosecute violations of Commonwealth law and will continue its fight against corruption.”
Special prosecutor
Kingman was originally hired by the AG’s office as a special prosecutor in its misconduct-in-office case against former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres pertaining to first-class travel.
On June 20, 2023, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios informed the Legislature that he had certified and approved Kingman’s employment as an assistant attorney general with an annual salary of $85,000.
Five days later, the AG’s office announced that Kingman would head a task force to investigate and prosecute government corruption, white collar, and financial crimes.
BOOST probe
Shayne Villanueva is the owner of Roil Soil Marketing, and was contracted by the previous administration to help implement the $17 million federally funded Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Together or BOOST program in 2022.
According to the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding, the documents it gathered indicated that Villanueva was paid $215,000 “at the very least” by the previous administration for implementing the program.
On March 5, 2024, Villanueva appeared before the committee and invoked his Fifth Amendment right when asked questions about BOOST.
Citing 1 CMC 1306, the committee found him in contempt of the Legislature and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez transmitted to Attorney General Edward Manibusan a “certification of statement of contempt” pertaining to Villanueva.
On March 22, 2024, Villanueva self-surrendered at the Department of Corrections after an arrest warrant was issued against him for contempt. Villanueva posted bail of $1,000 for his release.
Two former BOOST contractors, Nonstop Corp.’s Rob Travilla and Salina Sapp, were also found in contempt by the special House committee. Both likewise invoked their Fifth Amendment right when they declined to answer questions about the BOOST program.
Former Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig also invoked the Fifth Amendment when the committee asked him questions about the BOOST program. He, too, was found in contempt by the House.
However, only Villanueva was charged in Superior Court for contempt of the Legislature.
