Kilili slams defamatory ‘secret’ Facebook group

CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan denounced yesterday a “secret” Facebook group that is questioning whether his wife, Andrea, is being paid from congressional funds. Federal law, as well as the House of Representatives Code of Official Conduct, prohibits a member from employing his or her spouse using congressional funds.

“It was recently brought to my attention that some individuals [have] established a secret Facebook group named ‘Stop Kilili.’ There have been postings within this group about whether I have paid my wife money from my congressional budget, the Member Representational Allowance. The answer is an unequivocal ‘no,’” said Sablan.

“Furthermore, it is uncalled for to attack the integrity of my wife,” Sablan said. “Andrea is not the one serving in public office. She is a hardworking employee of an established, highly regarded private company [on] Saipan, which is her only source of a paycheck. My wife is a decent and honest human being. She does not deserve to be attacked by these individuals.”

At the same time, Sablan encouraged anyone with knowledge of a violation of federal or CNMI government ethics laws to take the matter immediately to the appropriate authorities.

“We all understand why people in the Northern Marianas have grown suspicious of the integrity of their public officials. I encourage everyone who has any evidence of corruption to bring it to the attention of law enforcement officials.

“Anyone can hide behind a cloak of cowardice in secret Internet rooms, trading in unfounded, false rumors. But the real way for us to clean up our government is to use the law—and the power of the ballot box,” he said.

Federal law provides a high degree of protection for the public against government officials hiring family members. One law, 5 USC Section 3110, expressly forbids the hiring of a relative by a public official, such as a member of Congress, in the office or agency over which that official has jurisdiction or in which he serves. The law defines “relative” to include wives and husbands.

The House of Representatives’ Code of Official Conduct also states that a member, delegate, or resident commissioner may not retain his or her spouse in a paid position. In addition, every employee of the House of Representatives must sign an affidavit stating that they have no prohibited family relationship to their employer or to any current member of Congress.