The Washington Post, the New York Times, other newspapers, TV networks and radio stations across the nation have carried the story through the syndicated wire service of the Associated Press.
AP is the nation’s largest cooperative wire news service serving more than 1,700 newspapers and thousands of TV and radio stations in the world.
In Europe and Asia, the Agence France Presse, the oldest wire service in the world and the largest French news agency with bureaus in 110 countries, also syndicated the story.
France 24, an international current affairs and TV network based in Paris, carried the story and so did other publications in the European country.
India’s Himalayan Times also used the story and the issue is a hot topic among bloggers in Nepal.
“It appears the story is getting a lot of coverage worldwide… even in the Himalayas! I can picture a group of Sherpas sitting around a campfire in a mountain village, drinking tea, eating goat cheese and reading about Fitial’s massage in the Himalayan Times!” a reader said.
But in the CNMI, the story is no laughing matter, with some residents already calling for his resignation or impeachment.
“He’s a top official and was just inaugurated. For me, this is a big thing. They really have to look at this,” said a local woman who requested anonymity.
Tinian Mayor Ray M. Dela Cruz described the incident as “sad” and “unfortunate” which should remind all elected officials to respect the law.
“We’re all humans and I believe whatever happened already happened. But it’s highly unusual. It’s a very sensitive and touchy issue. It’s a situation like Tiger Woods’. It’s very unfortunate and sad,” said Dela Cruz in an interview on Saturday.
“Maybe it’s a mistake. Maybe it’s an oversight…. This should be a lesson for every official especially when dealing with the feds. It’s enough that we have the ongoing tension with the federal government,” he added.
A local man who requested anonymity said what the governor did “is wrong.”
A Chinese woman who tends to one of the stores in Garapan said the federal detainee, Qingmei Cheng, who has been charged with human smuggling, is known as a very good masseuse.
But she said the governor should have just asked for another masseuse.
“I could have massaged him,” she said.
A Fitial supporter, who declined to be identified, said the federal government should consider the governor’s health.
“For humanitarian reasons, he should be afforded leniency,” he said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s request for an evidentiary hearing had been granted. Federal Court Chief Judge Alex Munson has set a hearing for Feb. 17.
