Rafael Poveda defends himself amid sexual harassment allegations in Colombia

Journalist Rafael Poveda said he was denied procedural guarantees before the accusations of sexual harassment were made public by the collective “Yo te creo, colega”. He claimed he was only given summaries of the testimonies and was denied access to full recordings, preventing an effective defense. Poveda announced that prominent criminal lawyer Jaime Lombana, together with José Luis Herrera and Wendy Herrera, will represent him in the case.

The collective released the testimonies of two women and said they had contacted Poveda, provided a detailed questionnaire and allowed more than 48 hours for a response. In reaction, television host Manuel Teodoro emphasized the need to respect a journalist’s right of reply before publishing such accusations. The dispute has sparked a broader debate in Colombia about journalistic ethics, the handling of gender‑based allegations, and the balance between victims’ voices and due process.

The case continues to be investigated by the Fiscalía, while the involved journalists maintain that they followed proper procedures and remain open to Poveda’s response.