Nicolás Petro, the eldest son of President Gustavo Petro, questioned the United States' decision to include him on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), also known as the Clinton List.
"The same prosecutor Lucy Laborde, in a hearing, stated that my case has nothing to do with drug trafficking or the presidential campaign. Just for the fact that I am Gustavo Petro's son, they unjustly put me on the Clinton List. An unprecedented political and judicial persecution. I will go to international organizations to defend my rights," said Nicolás Petro this Friday, October 24, after the US government confirmed that he, President Petro, Verónica Alcocer, and Armando Benedetti had entered that 'black list'.
“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has skyrocketed to record levels, flooding the United States and poisoning its citizens. President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and has refused to halt this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate drug trafficking,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Specifically regarding the case of Nicolás, today arrested for the crimes of illicit enrichment and money laundering with money from his father's presidential campaign, the US government assured that he received money from drug trafficking.
"Gustavo Petro's eldest son, Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos (Nicolás Petro), is considered his political heir. He served as Gustavo Petro's campaign manager in Barranquilla. In 2023, Nicolás Petro was arrested in Colombia for money laundering and illicit enrichment, accused of having funneled money received from drug trafficking into Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' initiatives and his electoral campaign. Nicolás Petro later admitted to having received illicit money from a person formerly involved in drug trafficking and the son of a contractor who was on trial for financing paramilitaries," the US Treasury Department statement read.
President Gustavo Petro's reaction
President Gustavo Petro, for his part, insisted that an alleged threat from Senator Bernie Moreno was fulfilled and announced who will be his defense attorney in the United States.
"Indeed, Bernie Moreno's threat was carried out. My children, my wife, and I have been placed on the OFAC list. My defense attorney will be Dan Kovalik, from the United States. Having fought drug trafficking effectively for decades, I am now facing this measure from the government of the society we helped so much to curb its cocaine use. Quite a paradox, but not one step back and never on our knees," said the head of state.
