In a message posted on his Twitter account, the president pointed out that the Republican congressman is an international observer (of the South American country’s elections) “and if he speaks out against Colombians abroad, I will take action.” He asked for respect for the detainee and noted that he is the son of a police officer who gave his life to capture Pablo Escobar and stop the flow of cocaine.

“The US granted Beto Coral asylum so that drug traffickers wouldn’t kill him. Now they’re pardoning drug traffickers and expelling those who fought drug trafficking—that’s your problem. I suggest you stop thinking that the priority is to put a US citizen in the presidency and ignore their history of alliances with drug trafficking,” the head of state wrote.

Petro stated that President Donald Trump is being deceived and remembered that he was recently prevented from giving a lecture at a Boston university to which he had been invited.

He emphasized that Coral is not a spy, as Moreno had insinuated.

Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell released a video showing the arrest of Franklin Humberto Coral, better known as Beto Coral, by agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the main investigative branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

According to Coronell, the arrest of the activist, who identifies with progressive movements in his country, was ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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