Does a company associated with Bad Bunny have ties to the Nicolás Maduro regime? A Puerto Rican politician is asking for the FBI to investigate Rimas Entertainment’s alleged ties to Venezuela’s embattled president.
Nina Valedón Santiago, who is the ex-subsecretary for the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), made the claim this week against Rimas, Bad Bunny’s record label. She is also running for the senate in the Humacao district. Valedón alleged that Rimas once received a $2 million investment from a person close to Maduro. Valedón also claimed that President Joe Biden’s government recommended that the FBI look into Rimas for potential “risks against national security.”
“This referral to the FBI is being made due to the risk that a foreign government would entail in interfering in the democratic process of Puerto Rico and the United States through investments in artists or influencers,” Valedón said. “We cannot allow money from oppressive and corrupt regimes to influence our society. In Puerto Rico, unlike Venezuela, we all have freedom of expression. It is our responsibility to protect democracy and the freedom of our people.”
Last year, Billboard revealed that Rafael Ricardo Jiménez Dan co-founded Rimas 10 years ago. Before forming the group with Bad Bunny’s manager Noah Assad, Jiménez was a vice minister for Hugo Chávez, the former president of Venezuela. He reportedly never had any contact with Bad Bunny or the other artists on Rimas. Billboard added that Sony was planning to buy out Jiménez’s stake in the company, which would reportedly give Assad and Bad Bunny control of Rimas. There’s word yet if this alleged plan is still in motion.
Jesús Manuel Ortiz, who is currently running for governor of Puerto Rico with PPD, has distanced himself and the party from Valedón and her statements. Héctor Ferrer Santiago, who is the PPD at-large rep, also spoke out in defense of Bad Bunny.
“The simple fact that Benito expresses his opinion on Puerto Rican politics and criticizes, in one way or another, the institution that I represent should not lead us to see him as our enemy,” Ferrer said. “On the contrary, he should invite us to reflect and analyze why he and other young people do not feel represented by our party. This is a serious mistake on the part of the candidate [Valedón], who seems to be seeking media attention. We must stand out for our proposals and ideas, not for attacking those who think differently or simply do not sympathize with our party.”