Justice Secretary sworn in as Puerto Rico's 3rd governor in a week

After the Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Pedro Pierluisi should not have been sworn in as governor on August 2 and needed to resign, Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez stepped into the role, becoming the island's third governor in one week.

The Supreme Court unanimously decided that Pierluisi's swearing in was unconstitutional, because former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló did not have the authority to name him as his successor. Rosselló announced last month he would resign on August 2, following public outrage over leaked group chats that showed Rosselló and his aides making misogynistic and homophobic comments. Under Puerto Rico's constitution, the secretary of state replaces the governor should they step down, but the role was vacant before Rosselló appointed Pierluisi, as former secretary of state Luis Rivera Marín resigned due to his involvement in the chat scandal.

As justice secretary, Vázquez was next in the line of succession. Earlier this month, she said she did not want to become governor, but on Wednesday declared she will serve Puerto Rico "with the greatest respect and determination."

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