TOFINO - Pahl's 18th District Congressman Cormac Hammer (Green Liberal Party) opened his session in Congressional Hall Thursday morning by revealing he would pursue charges for investigation and opened articles for ethics violation investigations against President Zacharias Castovia. In his remarks to the congress and senate, he stated that the allegations were for a holiday President Castovia took on a private island belonging to a billionaire board member from ZSuites Incorporated; the President founded the company and was the former CEO and President of the company. Zamastan’s federal conflict-of-interest and ethics office said it was probing whether the visit to the island, which took place over the new year, broke rules preventing ministers from accepting bribes. The island is owned by Tauren Delavian, who heads the branch of the company that had operated as a registered lobbyist from 2014-2015. It has received hundred of millions in grants from the federal government in recent decades for its vehicle and weapons manufacturing investments. The proposed investigations will determine whether the President was bribed in any way, accepted any bribes in any form, or promised legislative or executive action in return for bribes or monetary compensation.
President Castovia responded to the allegations at noon following the break of the articles being opened, firing back at Hammer for his voting record and shared business history saying, "This isn't the first time Mr. Hammer has questioned my ethical approach to reuniting with old friends and former clientele and employees. Generally, I have gotten to the stage where I think Mr. Hammer has a problem with the influx of the praise my cabinet has been getting on the work they've done compared to whatever it is he's trying to do. In fact, Mr. Hammer's own company, Gorian Institution, was a subsidiary of ZSuites before we dropped it after it became clear that it was, in fact, losing money in its division."
The President also said that if the congress approves an investigation, he would fully comply. "It's ultimately up to the congress. If push comes to shove and somehow and investigation does end up opening, I'm more than happy to take questions and participate with the investigators and special prosecutor."
When asked whether or not he was worried about the prospect of a preliminary hearing for the investigation, Castovia responded with, "Not at all. There was nothing regarding a breach of ethical trust or responsibility for my office, and Mr. Delavian has been a great friend to me for my whole life."
The President also took a shot at congress, which has been slow to put the Education Secretary's proposal for increased teacher salaries to a vote. "If the congress decides that friendships and taking a break every now and again is an ethical dilemma, I suggest that they get back to work in the Hall and get off their asses, which goes for both the liberals and conservatives, by the way. Everyday Zamastanians, specifically teachers, are depending on government subsidies and paychecks which have been halted for nearly two months thanks to the whole argument over education funding. You know my standpoint on it, if we can't get our kids and teachers in school because of general laziness and hypocrisy, then we had better get back to good old bi-partisan reform. Otherwise, I'll ask Mr. Sakzi to put instant-legislative on right now. (President Castovia referring to Speaker of the House Foley Sakzi's official power to put any motion to vote at any time as long as Congress is in session)"
Comments