The Northern Marianas delegate to the United States Congress, Gregorio Kilili Sablan, has launched a public petition urging the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, to investigate allegations of corruption in the territory.
The Fitial administration has called the request a political ploy.
The petitioners say they do not understand how the U.S. Attorney General can sit idly by, when day after day there are reports of abuse of office by elected officials in the Northern Marianas.
It is targetting 1,000 signatures.
Most of the issues cited in the petition are the same allegations made in an unsuccessful attempt to impeach Governor Benigno Fitial.
The impeachment attempt included 16 allegations of corruption, neglect of duty
and felonies, and was easily defeated by the administration-controlled House leadership.
