“A hero”: Donald Trump’s effusive congratulations to Álvaro Uribe for his freedom

Through an effusive message on Twitter, the president of the United States Donald Trump celebrated the decision of the Colombian justice, headed by a guarantee control judge, who on the morning of this Saturday delivered the verdict that freed former president and senator Álvaro Uribe Vélez, in the process that is being followed for alleged manipulation of witnesses.

On the news of the day in Colombia, the North American president wrote:

“Congratulations to former President Álvaro Uribe, a hero, former recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and an ally of our country in the fight against Castro-Chavismo! I will always support our Colombian friends “

The award Trump is referring to is Presidential Medal of the Freedom, a decoration awarded by the President of the United States and equivalent to the Congressional Gold Medal. It is considered the highest mention that a civilian can receive, and it was awarded to Álvaro Uribe in 2009, during the presidency of George W. Bush. In that year, Uribe shared the honor with the likes of Tony Blair, Ted Kennedy and Stephen Hawking.

Reactions to the decision

Supporters and detractors of the former president of Colombia, former senator Álvaro Uribe Velez They reacted to his release order, which was issued by a Judge 30 of the Control of Guarantees of Bogotá this Saturday, October 10.

The main argument to determine this decision was that an investigation cannot be equated to an indictment and that, therefore, the former president, deprived of his liberty on his estate ‘El Ubérrimo’, would be immediately released due to a case of procedural fraud and manipulation of witnesses

In addition, he pointed out the difference that a different measure of deprivation of liberty means in the two systems and they are not comparable. In turn, it highlights that there are non-custodial measures that can be applied.

The decision has elicited reactions from supporters and detractors of the former president. Opinions vary from criticism or praise for the change of court, the role of the delegate prosecutor Gabriel Ramón Jaimes, among other versions.

The first to speak was Álvaro Uribe himself, who from his Twitter account briefly celebrated the decision with a “Thank God”, a trill that has already reached thousands of interactions.

The senator for Colombia Humana, Gustavo Bolívar, expressed that he respects the judge’s decision and that, however, this cannot be confused with an acquittal of the charges for which the former president is being investigated.

Iván Cepeda, who would have been questioned in the first place for manipulating witnesses against Uribe in this same case, spoke via Twitter expressing his respect for justice but announcing that he will appeal the decision of Judge 30 of Control of Guarantees.

“We do not share that decision, of course, and we are going to appeal it. Above all, it seems very serious to us that the prosecutor Gabriel Jaimes has developed a free political act in this action. His partiality is evident “stated the senator.