Guam News - Guam News

Guam - CNMI Judge David Wiseman this morning [Monday ] issued a warrant for the arrest of CNMI Attorney General Edward Buckingham.

The warrant was issued after Buckingham failed to appear in Court this morning after being summoned to answer to a criminal complaint filed last Friday against him.

The Saipan Tribune reports that Judge Wiseman said he did "not find any justifiable excuse for the AG not appearing in court."

The paper also reports that Judge Weisman has  ordered a $50,000 cash bail for Buckingham, if an when Buckingham is brought back to the CNMI to answer to the allegations.

READ the article in the Saipan Tribune HERE

Buckingham announced his resignation as Attorney General last Wednesday, but reportedly reversed his decision Saturday after being served with a summons to appear in Court today [Monday]..

Our Saipan Correspondent Brad Ruszal reports that Buckingham attempted to avoid being served and that he received an escort from CNMI Police to the Airport early Saturday morning. But an FBI Special Agent caught up with him at the CNMI Airport and managed to serve him, before Buckingham boarded a plane to Tokyo.

The CNMI Office of Public Auditor filed a criminal complaint against Buckingham over his approval of a $400,000 sole-source American Recovery and Reinvestment Act management contract award in October 2010 to Michael Ada within days after Ada stepped down as CNMI Commerce Secretary. Buckingham is also accused of hosting a delegate candidate's party at Gov. Fitial's house in August 2010.