THE House Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding on Thursday agreed to issue a subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum to former Department of Commerce-Economic Development Director Jesus Taisague and two recipients of the Building Optimism, Opportunities and Stability Together program.
The special committee, chaired in an acting capacity by House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, voted to approve the motion of Rep. Marissa Flores to issue a subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum to Taisague and BOOST recipients Alexandria Jing and Kevin Guerrero.
Documents obtained by the special panel showed that Jing was awarded $200,000 for her Saipan Horse Course in Kagman, $125,000 for her Elite Group LLC dba Loverbirds Restaurant on Tinian, $125,000 for her Flower Tea House and $125,000 for her Saipan Goddess while Guerrero was awarded $150,000 for his Covid Care Force Micronesia and $150,000 for Saipan Renal Care.
In December 2022, Taisague appeared before a joint House committee investigating the BOOST program, and said he had a financial interest in Love Birds, but he recused himself from the review panel when its BOOST application was submitted.
The special committee on Thursday also unanimously approved the motion to ask Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez to send a statement of contempt to the Office of Attorney General for the prosecution of former Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig.
Atalig invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege when the committee asked him questions about the BOOST program.