PDP blasts Rivera Schatz for comparing Sen. González to biblical figure Mary Magdalene
Popular Democratic Party lawmakers criticized Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz Tuesday for publicly calling PDP Sen. Sila Mari González a prostitute as he compared her to Mary Magdalene.
Rivera Schatz said he was standing by his remarks, arguing that he merely used the comparison to talk about the ability to forgive, but PDP Rep. Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto said the Senate leader knew what he was doing.
“He is now trying to confuse the meaning of his words but he knew exactly what he was saying,” Cruz Soto said.
During a morning news conference, Rivera Schatz was asked about remarks that González told a radio station to the effect that she would be willing to testify against NPP Sen. Héctor Martínez if she were asked.
González, who used to date Martínez, signed a sworn statement a few years ago linking him to a drug trafficker. On Tuesday, she said she was not surprised by reports that Martínez is the target of a federal probe for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for legislation that benefited private insurance companies.
Rivera Schatz said that “Sila Mari reminds me of Mary Magdalene,” referring to a reformed prostitute mentioned in the Bible. “If in the Bible, Mary Magdalene was forgiven, one should forgive everyone,” he said.
The PDP Senate and House caucuses censured his words.
During the session, PDP Sen. Eduardo Bhatia reminded Rivera Schatz that the public expects certain behavior from lawmakers and that one can hold different views from another person without resorting to insults. “Stop this, once and for all,” he said.
Rivera Schatz said he stood by his words and that he was merely saying that “if there was forgiveness for Mary Magdalene, why can’t people who insult be forgiven. I have seen the manner the PDP and some media treat Sen. Evelyn Vázquez. When [a member of the group] Calle 13 insulted the governor, the PDP delegation wanted to congratulate him,” he said.
“I was just talking about forgiveness; you are the one who is talking about something else,” he said.
It is not the first time that Rivera Schatz has attacked female lawmakers. The NPP senator has verbally insulted NPP female lawmakers in the House and put into question their sexual orientation.
House Minority Leader Héctor Ferrer noted that Rivera Schatz has a pattern of abuse towards women, “especially those who are not afraid to face him.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Roberto Arango asked for a vote of confidence in favor of Martínez.
Rivera Schatz said he was standing by his remarks, arguing that he merely used the comparison to talk about the ability to forgive, but PDP Rep. Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto said the Senate leader knew what he was doing.
“He is now trying to confuse the meaning of his words but he knew exactly what he was saying,” Cruz Soto said.
During a morning news conference, Rivera Schatz was asked about remarks that González told a radio station to the effect that she would be willing to testify against NPP Sen. Héctor Martínez if she were asked.
González, who used to date Martínez, signed a sworn statement a few years ago linking him to a drug trafficker. On Tuesday, she said she was not surprised by reports that Martínez is the target of a federal probe for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for legislation that benefited private insurance companies.
Rivera Schatz said that “Sila Mari reminds me of Mary Magdalene,” referring to a reformed prostitute mentioned in the Bible. “If in the Bible, Mary Magdalene was forgiven, one should forgive everyone,” he said.
The PDP Senate and House caucuses censured his words.
During the session, PDP Sen. Eduardo Bhatia reminded Rivera Schatz that the public expects certain behavior from lawmakers and that one can hold different views from another person without resorting to insults. “Stop this, once and for all,” he said.
Rivera Schatz said he stood by his words and that he was merely saying that “if there was forgiveness for Mary Magdalene, why can’t people who insult be forgiven. I have seen the manner the PDP and some media treat Sen. Evelyn Vázquez. When [a member of the group] Calle 13 insulted the governor, the PDP delegation wanted to congratulate him,” he said.
“I was just talking about forgiveness; you are the one who is talking about something else,” he said.
It is not the first time that Rivera Schatz has attacked female lawmakers. The NPP senator has verbally insulted NPP female lawmakers in the House and put into question their sexual orientation.
House Minority Leader Héctor Ferrer noted that Rivera Schatz has a pattern of abuse towards women, “especially those who are not afraid to face him.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Roberto Arango asked for a vote of confidence in favor of Martínez.