The Popular Party candidate for the Senate representing the Humacao district, Nina Valedón Santiago, announced on Tuesday that she will request an investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the alleged $2 million investment made in Rimas Entertainment in 2014 by individuals associated with the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The former deputy secretary-general of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) referred to Rafael Jiménez Dan, who served as the Vice Minister of Legal Security for Venezuela’s Ministry of Interior Relations and Justice between 2006 and 2013. Jiménez Dan reportedly increased his initial funding to $1 billion by working with urban music artist Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, and other artists.
Valedón’s actions followed days after Bad Bunny endorsed the candidate from Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana for the mayoral race in Vega Baja, a municipality currently led by popular party member Marcos Cruz Molina. The artist has recently spoken out against the political dominance of both the PPD and the New Progressive Party (PNP).
Without presenting evidence, Valedón Santiago warned the public about the alleged risk of foreign governments interfering in the upcoming November elections, both in Puerto Rico and the United States.
“Just as we demand clear explanations when the PNP changes its stance on LUMA after company affiliates hold a fundraising event for them, we also demand answers when a person linked to and active in prominent positions within the Chavista regime invests $2 million in companies that shape public opinion both in the country and internationally,” the candidate stated.
In addition to presenting reports from 2022, Valedón Santiago did not provide evidence currently linking Jiménez Dan to the management company of the artist.
“I believe that this figure (Jiménez Dan), as well as the company and the people working there, owe explanations to the people of Puerto Rico about whether, in fact, those $2 million they received have any influence on the policies they pursue. It will be up to them to explain it and up to federal authorities to investigate these political intervention schemes involving public figures,” she concluded.
