The Accusation Commission of the Colombian House of Representatives has opened a preliminary investigation into former President Alvaro Uribe’s involvement in the illegal wiretapping of government critics.
Uribe’s former personal secretary Bernardo Moreno was barred from public office for 18 years after the inspector general convicted him of responsibility for the illegal wiretapping of Supreme Court magistrates, politicians, journalists and human rights organizations.
Many other officials that served under Uribe are under investigation, including former employees and heads of Colombian intelligence agency DAS.
Following the ruling by the inspector general, Uribe said that he takes responsibility for Moreno’s actions, but has always denied his personal involvement in the scandal, which was described by the Washington Office on Latin America as “far worse than Watergate.” Several other officials have called for Uribe to be investigated following Moreno’s sentence.
