BREAKING: US Bars Former President From Entering Country With Strong Reason (PHOTO)

BREAKING: US Bars Former President From Entering Country With Strong Reason (PHOTO)

Former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez has been banned from entering the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption during his time in office.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement, accusing Varela of accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts.

Conservative politician Juan Carlos Varela served as president of Panama from 2014 to 2019 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]

Varela is one of two Panamanian presidents charged with money laundering in the long-running Odebrecht scandal, which implicated politicians across several Latin American countries.

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The scandal involved the collection of bribes by officials in exchange for major public works contracts. During his presidency, Varela was implicated in the scandal, with allegations that he accepted bribes from Odebrecht under the guise of “donations.” Varela, however, denied any wrongdoing.

Juan Carlos Varela, who comes from one of Panama’s wealthiest families, served as vice president under Ricardo Martinelli before their falling out. Martinelli himself has been accused in the Odebrecht case and faced other allegations. His two sons have served prison sentences in the United States for their involvement in the money-laundering scandal. Martinelli was extradited from the United States in 2018 on charges of using public funds to spy on political opponents and journalists but was acquitted in 2021 due to insufficient evidence. Both Martinelli and Varela are scheduled to stand trial for their alleged roles in the Odebrecht case and have been prohibited from leaving Panama.

Secretary of State Blinken emphasized the detrimental impact of corruption, stating that it deprives the people of Panama of quality public services and hampers their economic prospects and quality of life. Corruption undermines prosperity, weakens democracy, and prevents Panama from reaching its full potential.