Puerto Rico Expels Senator On Tax Count

The Senate voted 23-6 Thursday to expel five-term senator Nicolas Nogueras from the legislature of this U.S. Commonwealth because of allegations of local tax evasion. It was the first expulsion in the history of the 44-year-old Senate.

On Wednesday, Nogueras, 60, became the first Puerto Rican senator to be indicted by a federal grand jury, on separate U.S. tax evasion charges. Also indicted were Nogueras’ wife, Abigail Mojica, and the former federal tax collector for Puerto Rico, Jose M. Torres Dueno.