SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — Federal prosecutors in the Northern Mariana Islands say the governor of the U.S. commonwealth needs to answer questions about letting a federal detainee out of prison to give him a massage.

Gov. Benigno Fitial has been subpoenaed to appear at a Feb. 17 U.S. District Court hearing to answer questions under oath. The attorney general’s office of the U.S. commonwealth wants the hearing canceled.
U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley said Tuesday that prosecutors will file a motion this week, arguing the hearing is necessary.
The detainee was Fitial’s masseuse, who is facing charges in a human smuggling case.
Fitial has said he had the woman released and brought to the governor’s residence Jan. 8 to relieve persistent back pain.