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The United States has condemned a Colombian court after it found the country’s former President guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe is one of the most well-known political figures in the country’s history. He ran Colombia from 2002 – 2010 and built his reputation on a hardline security strategy that dramatically reduced guerrilla violence. His presidency was also clouded by longstanding allegations of ties to paramilitary groups involved in widespread human rights abuses. The legal case against Uribe began indirectly through Senator Iván Cepeda, a vocal left-wing critic who, in 2012, publicly presented testimony from former paramilitary fighters alleging that Uribe had helped found and support paramilitary organizations in the 1990s. In response, Uribe filed a complaint against Cepeda, accusing him of bribing witnesses to falsely implicate him. After reviewing the claims, the Colombian Supreme Court not only cleared Cepeda but also uncovered evidence suggesting it was Uribe, not Cepeda, who had attempted to manipulate witnesses. This triggered a formal investigation into Uribe in 2018. Prosecutors later accused him and his lawyer of trying to bribe or pressure imprisoned paramilitary members into changing or retracting their testimony. Uribe has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling the process a politically motivated attack orchestrated by left-wing elements in Colombia’s judiciary.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, former Colombian President Uribe was convicted by a Bogotá lower circuit court on charges of witness tampering and procedural fraud. This marks the first time in Colombia’s history that a former president has been found guilty in a criminal trial. Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, who read her ruling over a nearly ten-hour session, concluded there was “sufficient, credible evidence” that Uribe had conspired with his lawyer to manipulate witness testimony in an effort to discredit allegations tying him to paramilitary groups. The court found that Uribe engaged in a “deliberate plan” to pressure or bribe at least three imprisoned former paramilitaries to alter statements they had previously given to Senator Iván Cepeda. Heredia also acquitted Uribe of a separate bribery charge, ruling that the evidence in that instance did not meet the required threshold for conviction.
In court, Judge Heredia said, “Justice does not kneel before power—it is at the service of the Colombian people.” Uribe now faces a potential prison sentence of 6–12 years. Due to his age (73), there is a possibility that any sentence could be served under house arrest.
Uribe and his legal team strongly rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal. One of his attorneys, Juan Felipe Amaya, told reporters, “This is not the end of this process. The appeal is next, and we are going to demonstrate that this decision, which we respect, is wrong.” Uribe himself has maintained that the trial is a form of political persecution aimed at tarnishing his legacy and silencing conservative voices.
This all comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the court’s decision. In a statement, Secretary Rubio said, “Former Colombian President Uribe’s only crime has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland. The weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges has now set a worrisome precedent.”
