The resignation of Gov. Ricardo Rosselló has brought further instability to the government of Puerto Rico. It is imperative that a stabilization plan be immediately implemented for the government of Puerto Rico. There are four components for a stabilization plan for the government of Puerto Rico: (1) address the corruption of the Rosselló administration; (2) implement anti-corruption legislation or regulations concerning the disbursement of federal funds to Puerto Rico; and (3) the addition of a group of non-partisan senior advisors to stabilize the government of Puerto Rico. Absent an effective stabilization plan it is difficult for either the government of Puerto Rico to succeed or the PROMESA bankruptcy cases to succeed.

Federal Criminal Investigation of the Rosselló Administration. This is a unique opportunity for Puerto Rico to address its corruption problem. The outrage against the Rosselló administration has united Puerto Ricans against corruption. There were massive demonstrations in Puerto Rico that forced Gov. Rosselló to resign. Puerto Ricans now understand the harm that corruption does to Puerto Rico. There should be a federal criminal investigation of the Rosselló administration. The Secretary of Education and the Medicaid Director were recently indicted on federal corruption charges. Gov. Rosselló and members of his cabinet engaged in disturbing chat messages. The recently disclosed chat messages raise serious issues as to whether Gov. Rosselló obstructed the work of Federal Oversight Management Board and the federal police monitor. Equally important, did Gov. Rosselló conspire with his associates to physically harm his political adversaries? One of the text messages discussed killing the Mayor of San Juan, a political opponent of the Rosselló administration. Has the Rosselló administration engaged in federal civil rights violations? The people of Puerto Rico are entitled to an honest government. The people that engaged in public corruption should be held accountable.

The creditors of Puerto Rico have also been harmed by the Rosselló administration. In order for the PROMESA bankruptcy cases to succeed there has to be a stable and honest government in Puerto Rico. At this juncture given the instability of the government of Puerto Rico it will be difficult for a restructuring plan to satisfy the feasibility requirement.

A federal criminal investigation of the Rosselló administration is necessary for Puerto Rico to make its fresh start. It is imperative that there be immediate federal action by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to seize evidence before it is destroyed or there is witness tampering. The failure to prosecute criminal conduct will mean that there are no adverse consequences for engaging in corruption in Puerto Rico.

Federal Anti-Corruption Measures for Federal Funds Designated to Puerto Rico. It is vital that legislation and regulations be enacted to safeguard the federal funds that are disbursed to Puerto Rico. An official in the Office of the Comptroller General or the Department of Justice should be designated with the authority to oversee and audit the funds that are disbursed to Puerto Rico. This individual would have authority to make criminal referrals to the United States Attorney. These measures are essential to protect the public treasury.

Absent the disbursement of federal funds it is impossible to rebuild Puerto Rico or to adequately address Puerto Rico's Medicaid funding crisis. Stringent oversight concerning the disbursement of federal funds will restore confidence that the funds disbursed to Puerto Rico will be properly utilized.

Senior Advisors to Assist Puerto Rico's Government. The cabinet officers of the government of Puerto Rico are young and inexperienced. Puerto Rico is undergoing the most turbulent period in its history: the PROMESA bankruptcy cases; the recovery from Hurricane Maria; and the resignation of Gov. Rosselló. The government of Puerto Rico has a credibility crisis. Most of the cabinet officers are holdovers from the Rosselló administration. The next election in Puerto Rico is scheduled for 2020. The government of Puerto Rico needs assistance to guide it through this difficult and turbulent period.

A senior group of advisors should be retained to assist the government of Puerto Rico. The principal goal of retaining these senior advisors is to bring stability and credibility to the government of Puerto Rico. The senior advisors would assist and advise the cabinet secretaries; interact with the Federal Oversight Management Board; and interact with federal officials. The outside advisors should be from the mainland of the United States and not affiliated with any political party in Puerto Rico. The outside advisor should be a disinterested individual seeking solely to advance the welfare of the people of Puerto Rico. An ideal candidate is the Hon. Luis A. Gonzalez, the retired Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, who is respected in the Puerto Rican legal community and born in Puerto Rico. Judge Gonzalez brings the intellectual ability and political sensitivity that is necessary to advise the government of Puerto Rico.

Conclusion. Puerto Rico is at a critical juncture. It is vital that the federal government take immediate and dramatic action to stabilize the government of Puerto Rico. The anti-corruption and government stabilization measures are intended to provide the federal government with confidence that federal funds allocated to Puerto Rico will be employed for their intended purposes. Federal funding is essential for Puerto Rico to rebuild after Hurricane Maria; to fund the Puerto Rico Medicaid program; and to have a viable government in Puerto Rico that can repay its debt. All of these measures are intended to ensure that the government of Puerto Rico will be able to address the needs of its citizens. Equally important, these measures are intended to promote the success of the PROMESA bankruptcy cases. The federal government's failure to act could lead to chaos in Puerto Rico, which would be devastating to Puerto Rico's citizens and creditors.

Carlos J. Cuevas is a solo practitioner in Yonkers, N.Y., and a research associate at the University of Houston School of Law.