Dan Newlin denies alleged $1.9 million foreign contribution to Colombian campaign

U.S. attorney and businessman Dan Newlin publicly rejected Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s accusation that he provided a $1.8‑$1.9 million contribution to the electoral campaign of presidential hopeful Abelardo De La Espriella. Petro claimed on X that Newlin funded digital advertising for De La Espriella through platforms such as Meta, a practice prohibited under Colombia’s election law which bars foreign individuals or entities from financing political campaigns.

Newlin responded via his X account, stating, “I have not contributed a single dollar, directly or indirectly, to his campaign,” and asked Petro to present evidence or retract the claim. He described any support for De La Espriella as “strictly personal and not financial.” The dispute centers on whether foreign money entered the Colombian race, potentially prompting investigations by Colombian authorities.

The controversy also references Newlin’s brief nomination by former U.S. President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Colombia, a nomination that was later withdrawn by the Senate. Newlin, a former police officer turned traffic‑injury lawyer, is known for his ties to the Republican Party and the Mar‑a‑Lago donor circle.