Colombia Starts Investigation into President Gustavo Petro for Drugs

Investigation Opened into President Gustavo Petro

The Columbia House of Representatives’ Investigation and Merge Each Committee announced on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation into President Gustavo Petro will begin, focusing on allegations of his drug addiction.

This initiative arises from a complaint filed by Wilson Lewis, who was the Minister of Justice from 2020 to 2022 under conservative former president Ivan Duque. Lewis has urged the committee to look into the claims made in recent letters by former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, who has accused Petro of struggling with drug problems.

The committee emphasized that it holds the authority to manage complaints against the president in line with Colombian law.

The preliminary investigation will involve lawmakers from various parties, including liberal member Carlos Cuenca from the Radical Change Party, Waddis Manzur from the Conservative Party, and Olga Lucia Velazquez from the Green Alliance Party. Interestingly, Velazquez has a history with Petro and did not sign the document initiating the investigation process.

Reportedly, Velazquez shared her concerns with Cuenca, suggesting that there could be something irregular in how the investigation is proceeding, warning that it might undermine a legitimate process. Lawmakers noted that the committee has requested that former Justice Minister Lewis submit documents within a week.

The committee has also reached out to the Colombian Judicial Police, asking for all necessary information to summon Alvaro Leyva to testify before Congress regarding his allegations.

Wilson Lewis, who filed the complaint, voiced support for the investigation into Petro and called for Leyva to testify about his claims. He emphasized that the “president’s dignity cannot be left to the whims of the moment.” Lewis stated that this is not about persecution but about fulfilling a state obligation, suggesting that the system should not conspire against the leader.

As of now, President Gustavo Petro has not publicly addressed the investigation into the allegations against him.

Alvaro Leyva served as Petro’s first foreign minister from August 2022 until May 2024 and has made several troubling claims about Petro’s alleged drug use, suggesting that he has personal insights into these issues. In a previous letter, Leyva has mentioned that he could “confirm” Petro’s drug issues, notably recounting an incident when Petro went missing for two days during an official trip to Paris. Leyva pointed to various troubling incidents involving Petro and other world leaders as proof of the president’s ongoing struggles.

Despite the allegations, Petro has consistently denied any claims of drug addiction, labeling them as slander. He has asserted that he was accompanied by French Secret Service agents during the times he was out of contact and accused Leyva of plotting against him with others to destabilize the government.

Recently, Leyva released a third letter claiming that he and his family have faced threats following his allegations against Petro. He indicated he would hold Petro accountable for any potential harm that might come to him or his family, emphasizing his commitment to restoring the integrity that he believes Petro has undermined.