(Washington, DC, March 28, 2006) — Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen attended a congressional briefing today on the activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Puerto Rico, the same office which has jurisdiction in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Congressmen Charles Rangel, John Conyers, Luis Gutierrez and Nydia Velazquez convened the briefing to look into the alleged incidents of misconduct in Puerto Rico surrounding the September 23, 2005 attempted arrest of Filiberto Ojeda Rios, the leader of the pro-independence Boricua Popular Army (BPA), which led to his shooting death.  The briefing also considered the February 10, 2006 attempt to execute search warrants on the BPA which led to agents pepper spraying the public and the press.

“I am here because I share the concerns of the people of Puerto Rico over the events leading to the death of Mr. Ojeda Rios, and because the FBI office in question has jurisdiction in the Virgin Islands.  There have been complaints registered against FBI agents in the territory by our Police Commissioner, Federal Judges, Inspector General, and residents of the Virgin Islands that cannot be based on anything other than race,” Christensen said Tuesday.  “In fact our own U.S. Attorney has filed a formal complaint against the FBI in the Virgin Islands, which has led to the replacement of the Agent in Charge and several others,” Delegate Christensen added.

Delegate Christensen said that she has been disappointed with the FBI’s handling of the rape investigation on St. John, pointing to the problems and the delays surrounding the investigation.  She said the reports of FBI conduct in Puerto Rico with regard to the BPA case and in the Virgin Islands with regard to the St. John incident reflects a pattern of disrespect that is apparently the ingrained culture at the agency especially when dealing with people of color. 

Testifying at the hearing were Puerto Rican officials from the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, the Bar Association, media and student groups. Christensen said that many Virgin Islanders, especially those who have ties to Puerto Rico, have been following the unfolding case on that island.