Congressman García Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing U.S. Interference in Colombia’s Presidential Election

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) led a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, expressing grave concern about the shameless interference of senior United States officials, including President Donald Trump, in Colombia's presidential elections.The letter, which was signed by 11 Members of Congress, and endorsed by human rights groups, faith-based organizations and research institutes, details how President Trump and Republicans in Congress have strongly endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella, "a candidate with a profoundly troubling record that appears to run counter to U.S. interests and potentially to U.S. laws." The letter comes a day after U.S. immigration authorities arrested Beto Coral, a prominent Colombian influencer who filed criminal charges against De La Espriella.

"This interference is particularly alarming given Mr. De la Espriella's background. A criminal defense lawyer and businessman, he has come under scrutiny over the source of his fortune and his links to Colombian clients, including Alex Saab, an ultra-wealthy fixer for Nicolás Maduro who is currently under federal criminal indictment in the Southern District of Florida for allegedly laundering millions of dollars," the letter adds.

The letter outlines other troubling reports regarding Mr. De la Espriella, including his praise for paramilitary leaders, opposition to the historic 2016 peace agreement, and accusations against him for having pocketed funds intended "to be used for bribing key judicial actors." The letter concludes by urging the U.S. government to stop interfering in the Colombian presidential election, review the allegations against Mr. De La Espriella and the source of the funds he used to purchase a number of Florida properties, and "respect, not undermine, the democracy and sovereignty of our neighbors in the region."

A copy of the full letter can be foundhere.

Members of Congress who signed the letter include: Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Catalina Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

The letter is endorsed by the Latin American Working Group (LAWG), Demand Progress, Just Foreign Policy, the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN), the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Justice Team, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, the Denver Justice and Peace Committee (DJPC), the InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF), and the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

# # #