Senator María Clara Posada rejects request to retract JEP allegations

Colombian Senator María Clara Posada has rejected a request from the Ombudsman's Office to retract statements regarding alleged irregularities within the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). The controversy stems from the dissemination of videos showing judicial proceedings involving former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, known as ‘Timochenko’.

Ombudsman Iris Marín Ortiz had requested a rectification, accusing Posada of using decontextualized clips to imply improper closeness between JEP magistrate Julieta Lemaitre Ripoll and former guerrillas. The Ombudsman's Office characterized the senator's comments as a ‘disinformation campaign’ that employs gender stereotypes and personal attacks.

In response, Posada defended her actions as an exercise of constitutional political control and freedom of expression. She argued that the Ombudsman's intervention attempts to limit her oversight functions and stated that she will not cease her investigations into the JEP's procedures, expenditures, and treatment of various actors involved in the peace process.