fwiw WSJ did a significant rewrite of this article incl. brought in 3rd writer:
Puerto Rico’s Outgoing Governor Seeks to Install His Successor
Move likely sets up island for further leadership confusion and possible legal challenges
By Andrew Scurria,
Laura Kusisto and
Arian Campo-Flores
Updated Aug. 2, 2019 5:54 pm ET
Puerto Rico’s outgoing governor defied top lawmakers and said his preferred successorPedro Pierluisi would be sworn in, likely setting up the island territory for further leadership confusion and drawing potential lawsuits in the coming days.
Ricardo Rosselló, who officially exited the office at 5 p.m. Friday, became Puerto Rico’s first sitting governor to resign. Mr. Pierluisi was confirmed to the secretary of state position Friday afternoon, the next in the line of succession, by the House of Representatives but not the Senate, raising legal doubts about his hold on power.
Puerto Rico was gripped with uncertainty for much of Friday about who would succeed Mr. Rosselló. He was driven from office by a string of scandals that brought thousands of residents into the streets of San Juan to demand he step down.
Mr. Rosselló picked Mr. Pierluisi, an established pro-statehood voice and former representative for the island in Congress, to replace him at a time of deep public mistrust toward government.
The New Progressive Party, which controls the legislature, failed in recent days to coalesce around him, though he was confirmed Friday by the House of Representatives to the secretary of state position.
Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz tweeted his chamber wouldn’t vote on Mr. Pierluisi’s nomination until Wednesday.
The political tumult is affecting Puerto Rico’s access to the federal dollars it needs to rebuild the damage from Hurricane Maria and extricate itself from a court-supervised bankruptcy. U.S. authorities have tightened their grip on Medicaid funding and Federal Emergency Management Agency dollars, pressuring the next governor to repair Puerto Rico’s standing in Washington.
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-delays-puerto-ricos-disaster-funding-awaiting-political-stability-11564768381