San Nicolas resigns as AG

Joey P. San Nicolas announced yesterday his resignation as attorney general effective July 5, 2014, primarily to prepare for his bid to become mayor of Tinian.

Joey P. San Nicolas explains his resignation as attorney general at a news briefing yesterday at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division in Susupe. San Nicolas is running for mayor of Tinian this November. (Ferdie de la Torre)

“It’s important to me that the people’s business moves forward without the potential for conflict as a result of these personal goals,” said San Nicolas in a news briefing held at the Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division in Susupe.

San Nicolas disclosed that he appointed Deputy Attorney General Gilbert Birnbrich to serve as acting AG upon the effective date of his resignation.

“I have every confidence in Mr. Birnbrich’s leadership as he is fully aware of the pertinent and important matters here at the Office of the Attorney General,” he said.

San Nicolas met with Gov. Eloy S. Inos on Tuesday and informed him of his decision to step down and the governor accepted it.

San Nicolas will be running against incumbent Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz in this November elections.

Then-governor Benigno R. Fitial appointed San Nicolas as attorney general in October 2012, replacing Edward Buckingham who had resigned and left the CNMI.

San Nicolas said he is stepping down as he does not want to either directly or indirectly compromise what they have been doing in the OAG.

“I will never want to have a cloud or any suspicion or any potential conflict in our office as a result of my personal or career goals,” he said. “I have too much respect for my entire staff here at the Attorney General’s Office and the community of the CNMI to possibly compromise the office and the public that I serve.”

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Commonwealth in this capacity,” he added.

San Nicolas said he learned a lot from the people that he worked with, from the Judiciary, from the Department of Public Safety, other law enforcement agencies, from Inos himself, and Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider.

San Nicolas said he considers serving as AG to be the highlight not just of his legal career but his career in general.

“I have nothing but great feeling for this office and for everybody who I had the wonderful opportunity to work with,” he said.

San Nicolas said it has been a privilege to work under Inos and a great honor to be his attorney general.

San Nicolas met yesterday with the members of his management team and held meetings with his staff and attorneys for both the Civil and Criminal Divisions.

San Nicolas said he is confident that the OAG staff and attorneys will assist and give their 100 percent to Birnbrich.

San Nicolas said that Birnbrich has done “a wonderful job” as OAG Civil Division chief for two years and as deputy AG.

“I look forward to his leadership as he assumes the role in an acting capacity as AG,” he said.

Birnbrich, who was also at the news briefing, said he accepts the appointment and “consider this a great honor, great privilege.”

He said it was a great honor when San Nicolas appointed him deputy AG. “He showed a lot of trust and confidence in me. And now he and the governor are showing a lot of confidence in me again as I take this next big step,” Birnbrich said.

On San Nicolas’ leadership at the OAG, Birnbrich said that when San Nicolas came in, there were trying times, there were doubts as to the competency of government attorneys and there were doubts as to the integrity of the office.

“I can say he has taken steps that have certainly restored any doubts, dispelled those doubts,” he said.