Vázquez Garced Campaign Finance Case
Case Timeline
Arrest and Indictment (2022)
Vázquez was arrested on August 4, 2022 on charges including bribery, conspiracy and honest-services fraud tied to her 2020 gubernatorial campaign. Her co-defendants — Venezuelan banker Julio Martín Herrera Velutini and former FBI agent Mark Rossini — were also indicted.
MAGA Inc Donation (2024)
On December 31, 2024, after Trump won the presidential election, Isabela Herrera (daughter of Julio Martín Herrera Velutini) made a $2,500,000 donation to MAGA Inc, Trump’s super PAC.
Click to view FEC filing documentation
Additional MAGA Inc Donation (Summer 2025)
On July 22, 2025, Isabela Herrera made an additional $1,000,000 donation to MAGA Inc.
Click to view FEC filing documentation
Guilty Pleas (2025)
On August 27, 2025, Vázquez pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a federal campaign finance violation, becoming the first former Puerto Rico governor in history to plead guilty to a crime. Herrera Velutini and Rossini also pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor campaign finance charges as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Original Sentencing Plans (2025–2026)
After the guilty plea, the court set sentencing hearings for January 29, 2026 for Vázquez, Herrera Velutini and Rossini. Prosecutors had been seeking up to one year in prison; the plea deal had reduced the possible term in light of dropped felony charges.
Pardon (2026)
On January 16, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Vázquez and her co-defendants in the campaign finance case before they were formally sentenced, effectively wiping out the convictions and any prison term that might have been imposed.
Background
Wanda Vázquez Garced served as the 13th Governor of Puerto Rico from August 2019 to January 2021. She previously served as the Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico.
Co-Defendants
- Julio Martín Herrera Velutini - Venezuelan banker
- Mark Rossini - Former FBI agent
Related Individuals
- Isabela Herrera - Daughter of Julio Martín Herrera Velutini; donated $3.5 million total to MAGA Inc ($2.5M on December 31, 2024 and $1M on July 22, 2025)
Analysis
This pardon is notable for several reasons:
- First gubernatorial guilty plea - Vázquez became the first former Puerto Rico governor to plead guilty to a crime
- Pre-sentencing pardon - The pardon was issued before any sentence was imposed
- Multiple defendants - The pardon covered all three co-defendants in the case
- $3.5 million in MAGA Inc donations - Isabela Herrera, daughter of co-defendant Julio Martín Herrera Velutini, donated a total of $3.5 million to Trump’s super PAC ($2.5M on December 31, 2024, and $1M on July 22, 2025) before the pardon was issued
Sources
- Federal court records
- Department of Justice press releases