Former Colombian FM Reportedly Attempted To Meet With GOP Reps. As He Plotted a Coup Against President Petro

Former Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva reportedly sought to meet with Republican Reps. as he sought U.S. support to topple President Gustavo Petro.

The lawmakers in question are Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez, according to the audios obtained by Spanish outlet El Pais. "I was in the U.S. with a guy who is in the front row: Mario Diaz-Balart. The Diaz-Balart are those behind the Secretary of State," Leyva says in one of the audios in reference to Marco Rubio.

El Pais detailed on Sunday that Leyva sought to topple Petro and replace him with his vice president, Francia Marquez. In the audios, the former official details his intention to meet with Rubio and get him to exert "international pressure" leading to Petro's fall. The White House never considered the proposal, the outlet added.

One source told El Pais that Leyva, 82, said "he had all the tools to execute his plan and remove" Petro. "His place would be taken by Francia Marquez. He had evidence that Petro could not continue holding office and, in case the plan was successful, the president wouldn't be able to respond to it. The U.S.'s help was very important," the source added.

The plan appeared to take place at the same time in which Leyva, who was close to Petro at the beginning of his administration, published an open letter accusing Petro of being a drug addict, to the point of disappearing for two days in Paris during an official visit.

El Pais noted that the recordings have made their way to the Colombian secret service, and that Petro has already listened to them, reacting with anger. He publicly accused Leyva of trying to stage a coup but didn't add many details. He also questioned Marquez, who rejected the claim, saying the plan was also a plot against her and that "she could be trusted." Petro then demanded she reject her involvement in public, but she refused and their relationship is now completely broken.

Leyva has not reacted to the reporting. Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said the former official may have committed treason. "These actions are not only a grave violation of the law but also profound moral disloyalty," Sanchez said in a social media publication.