Congresswoman Torres Statement on 2023 List of Corrupt Officials in Central America
Washington, D.C. – Following the State Department’s latest release of a list of corrupt government officials in Central America, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), the only Member of Congress to be born in Central America and chair of the bipartisan Central America Caucus, issued this statement:
“The ruling Giammattei regime’s attempts to subvert democracy during Guatemala’s recent election made it clear that corruption continues to run rampant in the Northern Triangle. By releasing this list, the State Department is giving Congress the information we need to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are not going to enrich corrupt officials,” said Congresswoman Torres. “We have proof that the individuals on this list illegally abuse their power to solicit bribes, threaten political opposition, jail independent journalists like José Rubén Zamora, and line their pockets at the expense of those they serve. These anti-democratic officials must face the consequences of choosing personal gain over public good.”
“Fighting democratic backsliding in the region will require support from Democrats and Republicans alike,” continued Congresswoman Torres. “I am troubled that my Republican colleagues on the Appropriations Committee recently advanced bills to cut funding for U.S. anti-corruption efforts in the region, and I urge them to reconsider in light of this report. Multiple individuals on this list have ties to Guatemala’s energy industry, and I fear that certain Republican provisions may enrich corrupt Guatemalan energy officials and harm Indigenous communities. The U.S. government must work to address the root causes of migration and reduce the number of people suffering at our southern border, and that will require a united commitment to combating corruption and strengthening democracy in Central America.”
Congresswoman Torres is one of the original architects of the State Department’s Section 353 listof corrupt officials in Central America. The public release of this list supports her efforts on the Appropriations Committee – which oversees all foreign and domestic spending – to hold corrupt actors accountable while supporting those fighting to uphold the rule of law in the region.