There is a debate in the country as to whether or not...

There is a debate in the country as to whether or not the death penalty should be applied, because of Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. Commonwealth. In 1997, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno approved of prosecutors seeking the federal death penalty under federal law (Federal Crime Measure) for an accused killer. But Rep. Jorge Castro has submitted a resolution in the Island's legislature demanding that Reno declare Puerto Rico exempt from the death penalty. He maintains that its status as a U.S. Commonwealth protects it from federal interference in such matters.