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The Americas

House speaker of Puerto Rico resigns post under pressure

Associated Press
Published | Updated

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in Puerto Rico has resigned under pressure from party leaders because of his connections to a former fundraiser convicted in a political corruption case.

Jaime Perello insisted Monday that he has done nothing illegal as he announced his resignation. Perello said he was concerned that he would be used as an excuse if the Popular Democratic Party lost control of the chamber in the November elections.

He is not giving up his at-large seat in the legislature.

Perello was elected in 2008 and became speaker in 2012.

Party leaders had pressured him to resign because of his connections to a political fundraiser who pleaded guilty to federal charges and is testifying against other government officials in a trial in the U.S. island territory.