Senator Iván Cepeda recently appeared before the Supreme Court of Justice to provide his statement regarding an ongoing case against senators from the Pacto Histórico, concerning alleged irregular funding during the 2022 campaign.
As he entered the court, Cepeda addressed accusations directed at Armando Benedetti, Colombia’s ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), who has been accused of assaulting his wife, Adelina Guerrero. Cepeda emphasized that no one is immune from justice and must answer for their actions.
He stated, "If these accusations are valid, then Mr. Benedetti must promptly offer explanations. Of course, justice must take its course. Nobody has immunity, and nobody in the Pacto Histórico is asking for it."
In an intriguing twist, Cepeda also faced questions regarding his alleged connection to the funding case. He was quick to clarify his position, noting that during the time in question, he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments due to a recurrence of his cancer. "I have nothing to hide," he insisted. "I want to make it clear that I had no involvement in that situation, and I was under treatment during the campaign period in 2022."
Additionally, the senator commented on a separate corruption case involving the Risk Management Agency. In this case, Olmedo López testified before the Supreme Court about contracts being diverted to the ELN. Cepeda acknowledged a column by José Félix Lafaurie, which suggested freezing dialogue until the issue is addressed. However, Cepeda believes the more appropriate action would be to unfreeze discussions.
He noted, "Dr. Lafaurie explicitly stated in that article that he certifies the matters discussed at the table are entirely legal and that he can attest no corruption occurred. Furthermore, since the conversations are currently frozen, we need to work on unfreezing them."
Through these statements, Cepeda aims to clear his name while also advocating for the continuation of peace dialogues. For updates on political developments in Colombia, you can visit news platforms like BBC News or follow relevant discussions on social media channels.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/23/ivan-cepeda-se-pronuncio-por-senalamientos-contra-armando-benedetti-nadie-tiene-inmunidad-y-debe-responder-ante-la-justicia/
