Lawmakers Ask DOJ Watchdog to Investigate Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report
Lawmakers from Puerto Rico are urging the Department of Justice's inspector general to investigate the abandonment of a federal probe into a drugs-for-votes scheme. The request follows a ProPublica report detailing credible allegations of election fraud linked to a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons. The lawmakers emphasize the need for transparency and accountability to maintain public confidence in democratic institutions.
- ▪Five House members have requested an investigation into why election fraud charges were not pursued after a federal probe was abandoned.
- ▪The investigation revealed a drugs-for-votes scheme involving a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons.
- ▪Lawmakers argue that the decision not to pursue charges contradicts the Trump administration's stated priorities on election integrity.
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Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, a Democrat Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images Lawmakers Ask DOJ Watchdog to Investigate Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report Led by Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, five House members have called on the Department of Justice’s inspector general to examine why election fraud charges were not pursued “despite reported findings and evidence.” by Raquel Rutledge May 26, 2026, 5:00 am {"componentName":"ShareToolsRebrand","props":{"pageTitle":"Lawmakers Ask DOJ Watchdog to Investigate Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report","pageUrl":"https://www.propublica.org/article/puerto-rico-trump-drugs-for-votes-doj-inspector-general-investigation"},"contextArray":[]}…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ProPublica.
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