00:00In Bolivia, there are allegations that the U.S. government's decision to charge the country's attorney general with drug trafficking
00:07and suspending his visa was motivated by a desire to protect Fernando Sarimedo, former personal advisor to President Jorolio Paz,
00:14who has reported being pressured not to deepen investigations into the Argentine citizen.
00:19Our correspondent Freddy Morales gives us the details.
00:23Following the U.S. government's announcement that it was suspending the visa of Bolivia's attorney general, the presidents of the
00:31legislative chambers demanded his resignation.
00:36We believe it is necessary for the attorney general to step aside from his duties while the alleged facts are
00:41being clarified.
00:44Our rejection of corruption is categorical. There must be no protection based on rank, influence, or political ties.
00:51The presidents of the legislative chambers, who are aligned with the government, requested that a joint session be convened to
00:57address the situation of the attorney general accused by the U.S. of soliciting and receiving money from drug traffickers.
01:04According to procedure, an impeachment trial must be initiated, which immediately results in his suspension from office.
01:12When I was a child, I remember that the U.S. appointed the attorney general, appointed judges, and appointed ministers.
01:18Do you want to go back to that? Now, if the U.S. has evidence, why doesn't it present it?
01:27I find it very suspicious that Attorney General Mariaca is suddenly being accused when he is in charge of investigating
01:33the Saramito case, the Hitman case, and even the Suitcases case.
01:36Vice President Edmund Lara recalled that the ex-girlfriend of the former presidential advisor accused him of ties to drug
01:44trafficking, of charging for the departure of a small plane carrying cocaine, and even revealed audio recordings of Saramito with
01:52a former anti-drug police chief who is now subject to a visa suspension.
01:56They make no mention of Saramito at all.
01:58But why aren't they revoking Fernando Saramito's visa if Fernando Saramito was at the shield of the Americas alongside Marco
02:04Rubio, alongside U.S. officials?
02:07What's going on with Fernando Saramito? Why isn't his visa being revoked? Why isn't anyone talking about Saramito? Strange. Very
02:14strange.
02:14Attorney General Roger Mariaca pointed to the investigations into the Argentine Saramito, an advisor on several campaigns for right-wing
02:24candidates across the continent, as the reason for the U.S. sanctions.
02:27Some investigations have implications that transcend national borders. The so-called Saramito case, for example, has generated concern and repercussions
02:36in various political spheres.
02:38He suggested that the U.S. government's accusations may be an attempt to derail ongoing investigations into political and corruption
02:46scandals that could involve high-ranking government officials.
02:53I will not back down even an inch from the investigations that fall under my jurisdiction.
03:02We will continue working on the Saramito case and the investigation into the alleged attempted femicide,
03:15as well as the investigations related to alleged money laundering and an alleged connection to drug trafficking.
03:21In August, Attorney General Mariaca reported pressure from the government not to investigate presidential advisor Fernando Saramito.
03:30His ex-girlfriend, Nadia Beller, a survivor of an attempted femicide, accuses him of running a state-level corruption scheme
03:38that allegedly even involves the first lady.
03:41The United States suspended the visas of 13 judges, prosecutors, a former justice minister, and a former commander in the
03:49fight against drug trafficking.
03:51Freddy Morales, Telesur, Bolivia.
