Velázquez on Mulvaney’s Puerto Rico Comments

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) commented today on Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney's comments that compared Puerto Rico to Ukraine:

"We've known for some time that the President and his Administration have a deep antipathy for our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. Mr. Mulvaney's comments comparing this part of the United States to a foreign entity is a political Freudian slip, that illustrates the fundamental problem that this White House views Puerto Rico as a foreign country.

"Not only do Mr. Mulvaney's comments implicate the White House in withholding aid from Ukraine to pressure that country to investigate the President's political opponents, but they are further evidence that this President intervened to slow or interrupt Congressionally approved relief funds for Puerto Rico. Not only is this morally shameful, but it may constitute yet another violation of the law."