Jorge Alfredo Vargas charged with sexual harassment as court seals trial proceedings

Colombian journalist Jorge Alfredo Vargas, former anchor of Caracol Televisión, was formally charged with four counts of sexual harassment covering alleged incidents from 2024 to 2026. The Bogotá judge ordered the hearing to be held behind closed doors to protect the victims’ identities, and the prosecution requested a gender‑differentiated approach.

Three of the four complainants withdrew from the case, submitting a letter asking that their identities remain confidential. The fourth complainant’s lawyer, Ana Bejarano, refused to provide a power of attorney that would reveal her client’s name, leading the judge to remove her from the courtroom. Despite these procedural twists, the indictment was confirmed and Vargas did not accept the charges.

After 137 days of silence, Vargas broke his public silence in a video, stating he had only just learned the specific facts against him and would defend himself, insisting on his innocence. The case remains under investigation by the Fiscalía General de la Nación.