Former Colombian Chancellor Alleges High-Level Collusion in US Filing
WASHINGTON D.C. – Former Colombian Chancellor Álvaro Leyva has filed a 21-page complaint in the United States alleging a coordinated effort involving current Colombian Minister of the Interior Armando Benedetti, President Gustavo Petro, official Sandra Lorena Arboleda Zárate, and journalist Juan diego quesada. Leyva is requesting U.S. authorities “start the necessary investigations to proceed to apply federal norms and jurisprudence with the purpose of guaranteeing fulfillment.”
The complaint centers on a disputed audio recording and alleges a long-standing relationship between the four individuals. Leyva claims the recording was manipulated – edited,with noise added – to falsely implicate him in a conspiracy with former U.S. President Donald Trump to undermine Petro’s presidency. He vehemently denies any such alliance, questioning, “I, Álvaro Leyva, Colombian, by the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, we act in a malicious and organized way to knock Gustavo petro’s presidency?”
According to Leyva, a forensic analysis established the recording was not original or complete and was subject to a “capricious” edit intended to damage his reputation. He asserts the expertise is “under chain of custody.” The complaint details a purported “personal relationship” between Quesada and Arboleda Zárate, described as “Protected of mr. Benedetti (today Minister of the Interior) and of the President of the Republic.”
Semana reports that Quesada declined to comment on the allegations when contacted. The filing initiates a request for further investigation into potential violations of U.S. law related to the handling and dissemination of the audio recording and the alleged conspiracy.