Our government is propping up right-wing politicians all over the world. Even though U.S. diplomacy has traditionally avoided taking sides, Trump’s public support for U.S.-friendly, reactionary candidates has become routine since his return to office. In Latin America alone, Trump’s White House has so far openly weighed in on elections in four different countries: Argentina, Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
Now, Trump and Republicans in Congress have made their pick for Colombia’s next president clear. And, unsurprisingly, they’re betting on the rogue horse with a questionable past.
Far-right criminal defense lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella built his career protecting paramilitary leaders and alleged money launderers and has been accused by former clients of accepting bribes to influence judges and lawmakers.
Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García is circulating a Dear Colleague letter calling out Trump’s and Republican members of Congress’s open endorsement of De la Espriella, who has reported ties to the AUC—a notorious paramilitary group responsible for mass atrocities against Colombian civilians and designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization—and to individuals accused of laundering money for Nicolás Maduro. The letter also raises serious questions about the origins of his wealth and suspicious financial transactions in Florida.
The deadline to sign Rep. García’s letter is TOMORROW, Wednesday, which means there’s no time to waste. Urge your representative to add their name now!
Take Action
You can also CALL and use the following script:
“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY/TOWN]. I’m calling to urge Representative [REP NAME] to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter circulated by Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García on U.S. interference in Colombia’s election. The deadline to sign on is tomorrow, Wednesday, at 1 PM Eastern, so I hope the Representative will act quickly. If your office has any questions about signing on, please contact Sameer Jaywant in Rep. García’s office. Thank you.”
Both options matter. An email puts your ask on record; a call gets immediate attention. If you can do both, please do.
Colombia’s election is just days away. The U.S. should not be tipping the scales, much less in favor of a candidate with obscure ties to the underworld who may pose a threat to U.S. national interests.
Adelante,
Andrea for The LAWG Team
