Colombian Court Convicts Ex-President Álvaro Uribe Amid U.S. Condemnation

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez was found guilty by a Colombian court of bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud, marking the first conviction of a former Colombian head of state in a criminal trial. The case, stemming from allegations that Uribe attempted to bribe imprisoned paramilitaries to retract damaging testimony, has sparked a significant political divide both in Colombia and internationally. U.S. lawmakers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Rick Scott, condemned the ruling as politically motivated and an example of judicial overreach under President Gustavo Petro's administration, with some calling it a form of persecution and a threat to Colombian democracy. In contrast, President Petro and the Colombian left have urged respect for the judiciary's independence and the rule of law. Uribe and his legal team have announced plans to appeal the conviction, maintaining his innocence and framing the case as persecution. The ruling has mobilized Colombian expatriate communities in the U.S., particularly in South Florida, to rally in support of Uribe and denounce the verdict.