SENATOR Paul A. Manglona is questioning the “constitutionality” of hiring former Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Joe McDoulett to be the Senate’s special counsel in the impeachment trial of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
Manglona, one of the Senate’s two minority bloc members, asked Senate legal counsels Jose Bermudes and Antoinette Villagomez the following questions:
• If McDoulett is “necessary staff,” does Article II Section (c) mandate that he be employed by the Legislative bureau director?
• If McDoulett is “personal staff,” does Article II Section (c) mean that he should not be afforded the ability to sit in as legal counsel assigned to a Senate committee?
• Is there any colorable argument that McDoulett may be unethically practicing law by working for the Senate, which is already represented by two extremely capable and professional legal counsels?
• To what extent can a private attorney work for the Senate and its committees without the consent of all the members of the Senate?
“Because I have the utmost belief in your legal acumen and integrity, I trust that the two of you will be able to provide a legal opinion on the matter,” Manglona said in his letter to the Senate legal counsels.
He noted that on Friday, McDoulett appeared as counsel in a joint Senate committee meeting, “and apparently provided legal assistance” to the committee.
On Monday, the former FBI agent appeared again in the Senate session and was in a seat normally assigned to Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan.
“It is unclear what his role was at this proceeding since the session was adjourned shortly after the public comment portion of our session was prematurely terminated, in possible violation of the Open Government Act by the Senate president, before all CNMI citizens who were present were afforded the right to make [a] comment,” Manglona said.
The Senate has yet to adopt the proposed rules for the impeachment trial of Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
He was impeached by the Democrat-Independent-led House of Representatives on Jan. 12, 2022 for commission of felonies, corruption, and neglect of duty. He has denied the allegations.
He will be removed from office if six members of the Republican-led Senate vote for his conviction.
Paul A. Manglona
