Puerto rico
The article “In Puerto Rico, Justice Bends to Power” examines the controversial pardon of former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced by former U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2026. Vázquez had pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations connected to a bribery scandal, and her pardon followed a $2.5 million donation to a pro-Trump PAC. The decision provoked public backlash and reinforced widespread beliefs in Puerto Rico that justice is selectively applied, favoring the powerful over lawful cooperation.
The article situates the pardon within the island's longstanding issues of systemic corruption, where political elites have repeatedly escaped accountability despite severe economic and social consequences. Corruption has diverted billions from public infrastructure, education, and services, contributing to Puerto Rico's prolonged recession, youth emigration, and failing institutions like the University of Puerto Rico and the power grid.
Attempts to curb corruption, such as the 2016 Fiscal Control Board, have been largely ineffective, with scandals continuing under federal oversight. The pardon is seen as exacerbating these issues, weakening legal deterrence and highlighting colonial imbalances where Puerto Rico must endure U.S. federal decisions without full democratic representation. The article concludes that justice in Puerto Rico remains deeply compromised by political expediency and federal complicity.
