The Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) of the United States Department of the Treasury decided to include the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, on the Clinton List, officially called the Clinton List of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), for actions that contribute to the international proliferation of illicit drugs.
“President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and has refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our country,” explained Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, quoted by the Treasury Department in a statement.
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In addition to Petro, his wife, Verónica Alcocer; his eldest son, Nicolás Petro; and the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, were included in the list. According to the North American entity, the president’s family and the head of the portfolio are responsible for the president’s actions, due to the support they have given him.
“Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos, Verónica del Socorro Alcocer García and Armando Benedetti are being appointed today in accordance with Executive Order 14059 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material or technological support, or goods or services in support of Gustavo Petro”, he clarified.
In addition to the support they have provided to the head of state, the Treasury Department added other reasons that would further justify the inclusion of the three on the Clinton List.
For his part, regarding Nicolás Petro Burgos, he explained that he is the political heir of President Gustavo Petro and that he was also involved in his presidential campaign in 2022, acting as campaign manager in Barranquilla.
In addition, he recalled that in 2023, the president’s son admitted having committed crimes. “Nicolás Petro admitted having received illicit money from a person previously involved in drug trafficking and the son of a contractor who was being tried for financing paramilitaries,” he said.
Petro Burgos is being investigated for illicit enrichment and money laundering. In addition, he has another criminal case underway for undue interest in the execution of contracts, influence peddling and falsification of public documents, to which two others will be added: embezzlement by appropriation and false testimony.
On the other hand, regarding Armando Benedetti he explained that, in addition to having held several positions in the Petro Government, he is involved in a scandal related to alleged irregularities in the financing of Petro’s presidential campaign.
“In 2023, Audio recordings of Armando Benedetti were leaked in which he talks about his participation in campaign financing and obtaining votes for Gustavo Petro,” he explained.
The audios in question correspond to calls between the minister and former chancellor Laura Sarabia, in which the head of the portfolio is heard threatening to disclose information about how some votes were guaranteed for Petro in the campaign.
What I’m telling you, Laura, is that this treatment (…). And yesterday the president: ‘No, no, I’m just in a hurry.’ Aha, faggot…, I held a hundred meetings (…), 15,000 million pesos, what’s more, if it’s not for me, they don’t win. So, no matter how hypocritical, one goes and receives people, but the treatment that you and the president gave me yesterday, faggot, I don’t know; Furthermore, what I’m going to tell you is not a threat (…), I see that this could push me…, I kick, son…, and there we all fall son…”, he said.
Finally, regarding Verónica Alcocer, she explained that, being the first lady of Colombia, she was unconstitutionally designated by Gustavo Petro as ambassador on a special mission. A court later annulled the appointment.
