- On Monday, the U.S. announced it added Guatemala Attorney-General Consuelo Porras and five Salvadoran Supreme Court judges to its list of corrupt and undemocratic officials
- The accusations by the U.S. are “totally false and unfounded,” stressed Guatemala’s Public Ministry, adding that they are based on false media reports and unreliable sources
- President Nayib Bukele’s party appointed the five Salvadoran magistrates, in a process the U.S. claimed was unconstitutional
WASHINGTON D.C.: In a move that highlighted the Biden administration’s frustration, the U.S. this week added Guatemala Attorney-General Consuelo Porras and five Salvadoran Supreme Court judges to its list of corrupt and undemocratic officials.
A top aide of Porras is also on the list, tweeted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The accusations by the U.S. are “totally false and unfounded,” stressed Guatemala’s Public Ministry, adding that they are based on false media reports and unreliable sources.
Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei also criticized the move on Twitter, calling it “a lack of respect towards international relations.”
President Nayib Bukele’s party appointed the five Salvadoran magistrates, in a process the U.S. claimed was unconstitutional.
In response, Bukele tweeted, “It is clear the list has nothing to do with corruption. It is pure politics and the lowest type of interference.” He also questioned why no Salvadoran opposition figures were on the list.
Earlier this month, the judges made a ruling, condemned by Washington, allowing Bukele to serve two consecutive terms and stand for re-election in 2024.
In support of the decision, Bukele claims he has widespread support in El Salvador.
After Porras sacked a prosecutor who had investigated high level corruption, the U.S. stressed it lost confidence in her position.
Porras and her aide have not commented on the U.S. actions.
