The U.S. State Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, banning him and his sons from entering the United States for their alleged “involvement in significant corruption.”
The sanctions were issued three days after Giammattei left office at the end of his four-year term. inauguration ceremony About his successor, leftist President Bernardo Arevalo, who was sworn in on Monday.
in press statement In a statement Wednesday, spokesman Matthew Miller asserted that the State Department “has credible information that Mr. Giammattei received bribes in exchange for performing official duties while serving as President of Guatemala.”
“The United States has made clear that we stand with the people of Guatemala in demanding accountability for corrupt actors,” the State Department said. “Over the past three years, we have granted visas to approximately 400 individuals, including public servants, private sector representatives, and their families, for engaging in corrupt activities or undermining democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala. We have taken steps to impose restrictions and sanctions.”
“Corruption weakens the rule of law and democratic institutions, enables impunity, encourages illegal immigration, impedes economic prosperity, and reduces the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people,” the statement said. continued.
Sanctions imposed on Giammattei prohibit him from entering U.S. territory. The ban also extends to Giammattei's adult daughter, Ana Marcela Giammattei, and his two adult sons, Alejandro Eduardo and Stefano Giammattei.
Giammattei served as President of Guatemala from January 2020 to January 2024. During his presidency, Giammattei sought to bring Guatemala into line with Washington, while maintaining a critical stance toward U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration.
exclusively interview Giammattei told Breitbart News in 2022 that Biden's then-ongoing negotiations with Venezuela's socialist government over the purchase of Venezuelan oil had a negative impact on law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking. He argued that there may be.
Flashback: Kamala Harris, Afghan immigrants, and the oil deal with the “devil” – a one-on-one with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei
Matt Purdy/Breitbart News
“Here's the problem” [in the United States] Let me explain why. 50 percent of the drugs consumed around the world are consumed here,” Giammattei said. “These pushers selling drugs on the street, where does all that money go? Right here in the bank.”
“When I look at airplanes every day, [with drug shipments] Crashing into Venezuela — Venezuela is a known place for planes to crash — and we're currently negotiating with President Maduro to ensure that the plane doesn't leave with drugs,'' he continued. I hope they do — but 95 percent of the planes land in Venezuela and arrive empty.”
In the same interview, Giammattei said: said He said he would never consider buying oil from socialist Venezuela because it would be like “feeding the devil.”
Giammattei is also rich criticized Vice President Kamala Harris during an interview criticizing the apparent inaction and lack of communication regarding the ongoing migrant crisis at America's southern border.
Vice President Kamala Harris stands in front of a mountain during a press conference at the airport after visiting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Central Processing Center on Friday, June 25, 2021, in El Paso, Texas. Harris visited the U.S. southern border as part of her role leading the Biden administration's response to the migrant surge.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
Since then, the Biden administration has acknowledged that: licensegenerous relaxation of oil and gas sanctions package,others concession This has allowed socialist Venezuela to reinvigorate its main source of income.
Giammattei, who served as president for a four-year term, was not eligible for re-election. Article 187 Guatemala's constitution explicitly prohibits a person who has served as president from being re-elected. Giammattei and former Vice President Guillermo Castillo. sworn He was sworn in on Tuesday as a Guatemalan member of the Central American Congress (PARLACEN), in accordance with Guatemalan law under which outgoing presidents and vice presidents automatically become members of regional parliaments upon leaving office.
As members of Parlacen, both Giammattei and Castillo enjoy immunity in the event of judicial charges against either of them.
Giammattei's successor, Bernardo Arevalo, took office in the early hours of Monday after the inauguration was delayed by nine hours due to confusion over the formation of Guatemala's new parliament, which is responsible for carrying out presidential inauguration ceremonies.
The fight between the outgoing and incoming councilors centered primarily on Arevalo's party, the Semira Movement. disqualification He retired from politics in November following an investigation by the Guatemalan public prosecutor's office into allegations of fraud during the party's founding. Semira took office as an independent.
Following the delay in Mr. Arevalo's inauguration ceremony, several regional leaders, the European Union, the Organization of American States, the United States and other countries' delegations called on Congress to complete the formalities of Mr. Arevalo's inauguration. Mr. Arevalo ran as an “outsider” candidate and campaigned primarily on fighting corruption in Guatemala.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
