Resigned lawmaker to return to CNMI legislature

5:11 pm on 29 November 2020
CNMI minority leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst

Edwin Propst Photo: Mark Rabago

A former CNMI Representative vows to cut the governor's salary upon his return to the House.

Former Representative Edwin Propst is set to return to the House of Representatives when the 22nd CNMI Legislature is sworn in come January.

This, after the embattled former minority leader of the House fired a series of posts on social media not only alluding to him returning to public service, but also promising to cut Governor Ralph Torres' salary by half as long the Commonwealth runs a budget deficit.

"One of the first pieces of legislation we will pass in the 22nd Legislature is to cut the salary of the governor from $US120,000 to $60,000 until we see a budget that is not in deficit," he wrote in a post on Facebook.

Propst is Torres' number one critic and resigned last September after claiming he had been broken down by attacks and cyber-bullying stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct during his time as a high school teacher.

Propst, a Democrat, topped his precinct, despite not campaigning.

Meanwhile last week, the Department of Public Safety said its detectives interviewed several people who had provided information about the criminal acts being alleged and that direct statements from victims were also reportedly "corroborated by witnesses" in relation to Propst's sexual misconduct allegations.