US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacted strongly to the verdict in the trial against former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Credit: Michael Vadon, CC BY-2.0.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the verdict in the ongoing trial in Colombia against former President Alvaro Uribe, who was found guilty today on two of the three charges he faced: bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud.
Rubio wrote on his official account on the social media platform X that the trial “sets a worrisome precedent” in Colombia, claiming the criminal proceedings reflect a “weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch” carried out by “radical judges.”
Meanwhile, polarization in Colombia is at its peak between supporters and critics of Uribe, one of the most influential political figures in the South American country over the past 25 years.
It is worth noting that, despite the sentiment behind many of the protests, this trial against former President Uribe began years before Gustavo Petro took office and was initially triggered by a complaint Uribe filed against Senator Ivan Cepeda. In 2018, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled against Uribe, turning the case against him.
Marco Rubio says trial against Alvaro Uribe ‘sets a dangerous precedent’
After nine hours of verdict delivering in the historic trial against former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (2002–2010), reactions continue to pour in, sharply divided between critics and supporters of the controversial politician.
One of the most notable responses came from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who echoed remarks made days earlier by Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who called the trial “a violation of the rule of law.”
Today, the head of U.S. diplomacy wrote: “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.”
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.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 28, 2025
This demonstration comes just weeks after the tariff threat against Brazil, sparked by the ongoing trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of instigating a failed coup attempt in 2023 following Lula da Silva’s electoral victory.
Initial reactions in Colombia to the verdict in the Uribe trial
In Colombia, the public reaction was deeply polarized. Throughout the day, both supporters and opponents of former President Alvaro Uribe gathered outside the Bogota courthouse where Judge Sandra Heredia was reading the verdict. At one point, police had to intervene after physical altercations broke out between the two groups.
At the political level, the right wing and Uribe’s followers denounced the ruling as a “historic injustice,” “political persecution,” and a verdict filled with arbitrariness. The former president and his party, the Democratic Center, reaffirmed their belief in his innocence and accused the judiciary of institutional pressure.
“This is not a verdict, it is revenge. It is not a sentence, it is an attack. It is not justice, it is fear. Yes, fear. Because Petro is afraid of Uribe,” wrote Democratic Center Senator Paloma Valencia.
Meanwhile, Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of the business association Fenalco, expressed regret over the judge’s decision on two of the three charges brought against Uribe. “We respect the authority of the judiciary, but that does not prevent us from voicing concerns about a verdict based on wiretaps obtained irregularly—violating attorney-client confidentiality—and on edited recordings that raise serious questions about the chain of custody. Moreover, the evidence presented does not demonstrate any guilt whatsoever,” he said.
The left congratulates itself on the verdict against the former president
Among the left and social movements, the ruling was welcomed as a victory for judicial independence and a step toward accountability. They accused Uribe’s defense of trying to undermine the justice system through strategies of victimization.
“A strong message to Colombia: no one is above the law, the era of the untouchables is over, and justice is not only for the wealthy. Today, uribismo is defeated in court and must be defeated politically in 2026,” wrote left-wing presidential candidate and former ambassador to Argentina, Camilo Romero.
Former Health Minister and fellow presidential candidate Carolina Corcho called the verdict a decisive moment in Colombia’s judicial history. “We welcome Judge Sandra Heredia’s ruling in the case against Alvaro Uribe Velez. Judicial independence is reaffirmed, and we reject any threats against those who administer justice. We congratulate Senator Ivan Cepeda for his courage and commitment to the truth,” she stated.
Finally, Gustavo Bolívar, presidential candidate and close ally of current president Gustavo Petro, stated that today the State and its justice system prevailed. Paraphrasing a phrase from Judge Sandra Heredia’s introduction to the verdict, he emphasized that the State must not kneel.
“Justice may limp, but it arrives. In a thorough one-thousand-page ruling, full of evidence and proof, the judge finds Alvaro Uribe guilty of Bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud… there is more to come. Justice is beginning to be served. Congratulations to the brave ones: Miguel Ángel del Rio, Ivan Cepeda, and Reinaldo Villalba,” Bolivar wrote, referring to those driving what many in Colombia consider “the trial of the century.”
#UribeCulpable
La justicia cojea pero llega.
En un fallo juicioso de mil páginas, repleto de pruebas y evidencias, la juez declara culpable a Álvaro Uribe por Soborno en actuación penal y fraude procesal… falta más
RT. Empieza a hacerse justicia.
Felicitaciones a los…
— Gustavo Bolívar (@GustavoBolivar) July 28, 2025