“I already executed an affidavit explaining everything that happened. What you’re reading in the newspaper is not really what happened,” he told KSPN.
“Instead of discussing this publicly, I would like to respect the process now. I want the people to know that what they are saying in the newspaper is false. It’s not the accurate representation of what actually happened.”
He added, “I never ordered my massage therapist to be brought to my house.”
In his Jan. 14 statement released to the media, however, the governor was quoted as saying: “I made this request because this was an unusual situation where I needed to address the extraordinary pain I was experiencing and also wanted to follow proper procedures before a detainee is released from custody, even if only temporarily.”
Fitial told KSPN that “my strongest ammunition is the truth.”
His masseuse, Qingmei Cheng, is one of the ringleaders of a group of nonresidents who tried to illegally enter Guam on a boat, federal prosecutors said.
As the highest elected official in the CNMI, the governor told KSPN that he’s used to public criticism but added that the newspaper is not telling the truth.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente says their group is still waiting for the facts before commenting on what residents have described as “massage-gate.”
The federal court will hold a hearing on the matter on Feb. 17.
“The minority has not come together to discuss this yet,” Benavente, R-Saipan, said. “We have to wait and see the facts of the matter. There are lots of things that could be said at this time which could be premature.”
