U.S. rallies behind Uribe, condemn his Colombia conviction as ‘political persecution’

The Trump administration and prominent Florida officials are lashing out at a Colombian court ruling that found former President Álvaro Uribe guilty of witness tampering, calling the case politically motivated and denouncing what they described as growing judicial overreach under President Gustavo Petro’s administration.

On Monday, a Colombian judge found Uribe guilty of bribing witnesses and committing procedural fraud, marking the first time a former Colombian head of state has been convicted in a criminal trial. The case stems from a legal dispute that began in 2012 and has become one of the country’s most high-profile judicial proceedings in recent memory.

The ruling drew an immediate rebuke from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, both long-standing supporters of Uribe.

“Former Colombian President Uribe’s only crime has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland,” Rubio posted on X. “The weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges has now set a worrisome precedent.”

Scott also condemned the ruling, calling Uribe a champion of democratic values across Latin America.

“@AlvaroUribeVel has always been a leading voice for freedom in Colombia & across Latin America,” Scott wrote. “The political persecution and brutal attacks under Petro’s socialist regime are unacceptable. They won’t silence the fight for freedom. The U.S. stands with the people of Colombia and will not turn a blind eye to injustice.”

South Florida, home to one of the largest Colombian communities in the United States, has long served as a political and cultural hub for Colombian expatriates. In Weston, where thousands of Colombian-Americans reside, community leaders gathered to denounce the verdict and express support for Uribe.

“This is a Machiavellian plan to undermine Colombian democracy,” said Weston City Commissioner Fabio Andrade, a prominent voice within the Colombian diaspora. “We are here to say that former President Uribe is an innocent man. This is nothing more than a political trial.”

Andrade also thanked Florida lawmakers for their support, including U.S. Reps. María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart.

“These leaders have always stood with us,” he said. “And today, we’re standing for justice.”

In a televised ruling, the presiding judge in Colombia stated that prosecutors had proven Uribe’s involvement in bribing witnesses and committing procedural fraud. The charges are rooted in a 2012 complaint Uribe filed against opposition Senator Iván Cepeda, accusing him of fabricating testimony by recruiting prison inmates to falsely link Uribe to right-wing paramilitary groups.

In 2018, the Colombian Supreme Court reversed course, launching an investigation into Uribe himself. The case shifted to the criminal court system after Uribe resigned from the Senate in 2020, relinquishing his legislative immunity. Monday’s conviction carries a potential prison sentence of up to 12 years. Uribe has denied all wrongdoing and maintains the case is politically motivated.

In a public statement following the ruling, Uribe said the prosecution was driven by “revenge” from political rivals, including the now-disarmed FARC guerrilla group and former President Juan Manuel Santos, who brokered the 2016 peace deal with the FARC.

South Florida lawmakers echoed Uribe’s concerns.

“As I have warned on numerous occasions, the decision of the sham trial, political persecution and witch hunt against former President Álvaro Uribe is a clear violation of the rule of law,” Díaz-Balart said. “It reflects the advance of extreme left forces that control Petro. From the United States, it is very worrying to see the deterioration of democracy, security and the increase of criminal groups in Colombia under Petro.”

Salazar added: “Justice was not served in Colombia today. An outrage was committed against Álvaro Uribe, the man who rescued the country from terrorism and confronted the FARC when no one else dared. They condemn him because he is an obstacle to the radical left that wants to turn Colombia into another Venezuela.”

Uribe, who served as Colombia’s president from 2002-10, remains a deeply polarizing figure in Colombia’s political landscape. Supporters credit him with restoring order and weakening guerrilla insurgencies; critics point to human rights abuses and alleged ties to paramilitary groups.

Despite his controversial legacy, Uribe continues to command strong support among Colombian-Americans in South Florida, where his image adorns cafés, billboards and bumper stickers.

On Monday evening, candlelight vigils were held in parts of Weston and Doral, where residents waved Colombian flags and held signs reading “#YoSoyUribe” and “Justicia sí, venganza no” — Yes to justice, no to revenge.