International
Ousted Peruvian Attorney General denounces plot against her
December 9 |
The attorney general of Peru, Patricia Benavides, who was suspended the day before, will hand over her position next Monday, after denouncing that she is being sanctioned by the highest judicial body for what she called a “political plot” against her.
In this regard, Benavides accused the National Justice Board (JNJ) of not respecting due process and stressed, in a video posted on digital networks, that the “express resolution issued against her has political motivations that have converged to suspend her and thus achieve that the forces that were behind this political plot, evidently coordinated, return to install themselves in the Public Ministry”.
Benavides charged against the JNJ that suspended her on Wednesday and for six months as part of the process that this entity has opened against her as a result of the investigation of her environment for allegedly forming a network of influence peddling.
She pointed out: “I reaffirm and reiterate: I have no responsibility in the facts imputed to third parties and I do not lead any criminal organization”. Likewise, the suspended prosecutor called on the prosecutors “not to let themselves be intimidated and to continue with the investigations” they have in progress.
In the same way, she added that “those dark hands that plotted to achieve this suspension cannot be allowed to stop investigations in cases such as those where families need justice”.
For this reason, Benavides accused the JNJ of not having respected the due process in her case, despite the fact that she stated on Wednesday in a hearing that she would submit to the investigations “as long as guarantees are given”.
Meanwhile, Benavides’ lawyer, Juan Peña, declared that she will hand over her position on Monday because this Thursday and Friday are holidays in Peru, reason why “it is impossible” to do it before.
He explained that after the announcement this Wednesday of the temporary suspension of Benavides, they will try to obtain “some report or some document” that will tell them how the investigation against advisors of the Attorney General for an alleged network of influence peddling in the Public Prosecutor’s Office is going.
Central America
Guatemala’s Attorney General Consuelo Porras Loses Bid for Constitutional Court Seat
Guatemala’s attorney general, Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States over corruption allegations, lost a key vote on Monday in which a public university selected two of the 10 magistrates for the country’s highest constitutional court. However, she could still seek a seat through another nominating body.
The election of five full magistrates and five alternates to the Corte de Constitucionalidad (CC) is taking place gradually over more than two months and is considered crucial in the ongoing struggle for control of Guatemala’s judiciary, which critics say has long been influenced by a political and economic elite accused of corruption.
According to results announced at a press conference, the governing council of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) rejected Porras, who had applied as either a full or alternate magistrate, and instead chose two candidates aligned with the university rector. The vote was held at a hotel in Antigua, about 35 kilometers from the capital.
Despite the setback, Porras — whose term as attorney general ends on May 16 — could still be nominated to the Constitutional Court by the Corte Suprema de Justicia, which appoints two magistrates. The remaining six are selected by the president, the bar association and Congress.
“It’s always a possibility,” the 72-year-old lawyer said days earlier when asked by reporters whether she would seek nomination through another institution if she lost the USAC vote.
Porras has been sanctioned by Washington and the European Union for allegedly attempting two years ago to block the inauguration of President Bernardo Arévalo and for pursuing legal actions against anti-corruption prosecutors, judges, journalists and social leaders since taking office in 2018.
The USAC vote was controversial because most members of the university’s governing council are serving beyond the expiration of their terms. Students, academics and social activists staged protests against Porras’ candidacy.
International
Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC
A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.
Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.
Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.
Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.
International
Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says
Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.
Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.
Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.
Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.
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