Marco Rubio Slams Colombia's Judiciary After Former President Uribe Is Convicted of Bribery, Tampering

Just hours after former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was found guilty of bribery and procedural fraud, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the South American country's judicial branch of being weaponized against him, saying his only crime was defending his country.

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

His comments were not well received by Colombian officials, who rejected his stance and described it as an intrusion on national sovereignty.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Rubio of interference.

"Intervening in the judicial affairs of another country is an intrusion on national sovereignty. The world must respect Colombia's judges. Many have been killed for trying to help the world," Petro wrote on X.

On Monday, Uribe, who ruled the country between 2002 and 2010, became the country's first former president to be convicted in a criminal trial.

After a 10-hour hearing, Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia announced that Uribe was guilty of witness tampering and bribery. He was also acquitted on a third charge of simple bribery. The decision followed a nearly six-month trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that Uribe attempted to influence witnesses who had accused him of having ties to paramilitary groups.

According to NPR, Uribe denied trying to coerce or bribe witnesses but acknowledged seeking interviews with several of them. He said he did so to prepare for trial and to verify testimony that was being used in a separate murder case involving his brother, Santiago Uribe, who is also accused of having links to armed paramilitary groups.

Judge Heredia emphasized that the court's decision was impartial and should not be seen as a political victory for any individual or party.

Despite her statement, other Republican lawmakers voiced support for Uribe and criticized the ruling. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida's 26th Congressional District, also posted on X, calling the ruling a "witch hunt" against the former president.