IN the criminal case against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Alberto Tolentino has granted the request of the parties to continue the status conference scheduled for Sept. 26 to Nov. 26 at 3 p.m.
The government, through Assistant Attorney General Steven Kessel, and Torres, through attorney Anthony H. Aguon, filed a stipulation requesting to move the scheduled hearing to a later date.
Torres, who is seeking reelection in November, also waived his right to a speedy trial, according to the stipulation of the parties which was submitted to the court on Sept. 23, 2022. Election Day is on Nov. 8, 2022.
On April 8, 2022, the Office of the Attorney General filed a criminal case against the governor alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or first lady Diann T. Torres. The case also alleged one count of contempt for his failure to appear before a House committee in compliance with a legislative subpoena.
The governor has denied the charges.
According to the AG’s office, the governor violated 1 CMC § 7407(f) by flying business or first class using Commonwealth funds, in violation and made punishable by 6 § CMC 3202.
1 CMC § 7407(f) states: “Any government employee who causes an airline ticket to be issued in violation of this section shall pay a civil fine of one thousand dollars.”
As for 6 § CMC 3202, it states: “Every person who, being a public official, does any illegal act under the color of office, or willfully neglects to perform the duties of his or her office as provided by law, is guilty of misconduct in public office, and upon conviction thereof may be imprisoned for a period of not more than one year, or fined not more than $1,000, or both.”
The AG’s office said the governor also violated 1 CMC § 1306 (a) (1), made punishable by 1 CMC § 1307 (1) by failing to appear before a House committee that was investigating his public expenditures.
1 CMC § 1307 (1) states that a “person guilty of contempt under this chapter shall upon conviction be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
Chief Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr. is the prosecutor while attorneys Aguon, Viola Alepuyo, Matthew Holley and Victorino Torres are representing the governor.
