Federal and local officials in Puerto Rico, along with civil rights groups and advocates, are urging probes after a ProPublica report exposed how a federal investigation into a drugs-for-votes operation in island prisons was halted post-2024 elections.

Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Congress, Pablo José Hernández Rivera, urged U.S. House Judiciary Committee members on Tuesday to support a congressional inquiry into the issue.

'ProPublica's report today outlines facts that no elected leader - in Puerto Rico or Washington - can overlook,' he declared in a Spanish-language statement.

On the same day, Rep. Héctor Ferrer Santiago of the Popular Democratic Party filed a resolution in the territory's House, directing its Public Security Committee to probe the claims, labeling them 'serious!' and insisting the House bears 'an inescapable duty to investigate.'

These calls followed ProPublica's publication of its probe, which detailed how prosecutors discovered a drugs-for-votes racket run by a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons and were examining potential involvement by now-Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón or her campaign. In the wake of President Donald Trump's 2024 victory, as an indictment was being finalized, supervisors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico instructed prosecutors to drop voting-related charges against inmates and staff, according to four sources familiar with the case. Later, after Trump's inauguration, they were directed to cease all exploration of political connections, the sources added.

González-Colón, a veteran Republican from the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, has ignored multiple ProPublica interview requests. In a Tuesday statement, she rejected any misconduct allegations, emphasizing her lifelong opposition to corruption in her career and campaigns.

'I firmly deny any effort to connect me to illegal actions,' she stated. No charges have been filed against González-Colón.

Speaking to local media Wednesday, she argued no probe is needed. 'There's nothing to it,' she said in Spanish. 'If they have four years of research, let them complete it. But I have zero involvement with those matters, let alone my campaign.'

Wednesday also saw Puerto Rican Independence Party leaders demand an investigation. Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago, the party's vice president, posted on social media that partisan meddling in prisons demands scrutiny due to its 'severe implications.'

Thomas Rivera Schatz, Senate president and fellow New Progressive Party member with González-Colón, first told outlets that local authorities should dig deep. But Thursday at a press event, he retracted, dismissing ProPublica's piece: 'I give it no credibility at all. It seems to push a clear editorial agenda - one targeting the Republican Party and Trump.'

A December 2024 indictment, issued under President Joe Biden, accused 34 members and associates of the gang dubbed Group 31 or Los Tiburones of offenses like drug trafficking linked to four overdose deaths, money laundering, and firearms possession. Prosecutors noted the gang's links to officials 'to shorten prison terms' and its control over inmates' politics and voting in primaries and generals, yet omitted drugs-for-votes charges.

Investigation insiders told ProPublica that gang bosses coerced inmates to back González-Colón under threat of savage assaults or drug denial, exploiting widespread addiction. Prosecutors had proof of González-Colón's WhatsApp exchange with a gang leader during primaries and were tracing more links when ordered to stop.

In her statement, González-Colón explained broad campaign outreach. 'This involved engaging families of prisoners focused on rehab and reintegration, as policy must serve all communities inclusively,' she said, sidestepping the direct gang leader contact claim.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for Puerto Rico's District, a Trump appointee since 2019, informed ProPublica his office avoids comment on active cases. Some defendants in the drug and laundering prosecutions have pled guilty, but most remain unresolved.

'Due to the case's active status and need to protect ongoing integrity, further press comment is inappropriate,' spokesperson Lymarie Llovet-Ayala emailed Wednesday. She had earlier affirmed pursuing corrupt officials as a 'top priority.'

As resident commissioner - akin to a House member - Hernández Rivera can propose bills, co-sponsor, and vote in committees but not on final House floors.

The Democrat and Popular Democratic Party member said he has backing from several Judiciary Committee colleagues drafting a letter for an inquiry.

Puerto Rico's parties transcend U.S. Democrat-Republican lines, prioritizing statehood debates, blending affiliations within each.

Hernández Rivera flagged the New Progressive Party's prison vote dominance as odd. 'Statistically, 83% inmate support for their candidate stands out, unlike anywhere else in Puerto Rico,' he noted, referencing ProPublica's State Elections Commission data review. González-Colón took 41% in the five-candidate general race win.

'Focus is on procedure adherence and any corruption in dropping the case,' Hernández Rivera added.

House Judiciary member U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., told ProPublica he'd back a probe despite limited details, citing U.S. election fraud concerns and 'today's morals.'

'I hope our or another committee investigates,' he said.

Annette Martínez-Orabona, ACLU of Puerto Rico executive director, warned that shelving a prison vote fraud probe erodes democratic faith.

The ACLU seeks 'full transparency on the investigation - evidence gathered and its handling,' she stated in writing.

The Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, pushing territorial autonomy from the diaspora, demands answers from González-Colón and the Justice Department.

'We call for congressional hearings to examine events, knowledge, and why voting probes stalled,' director Erica González Martínez wrote. 'Puerto Ricans merit the truth.'