Florida Congresswoman María Elvira-Salazar (R) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, condemning the Guatemalan U.S. Embassy after allegations surfaced that they had tampered with local judicial elections.
In addition to the letter, Salazar shared a statement on X arguing that the U.S. should only defend democracy and “not distort it."
“I just sent a letter to [Marco Rubio] after learning our U.S. Embassy may be threatening Guatemalan judges ahead of next year’s judicial elections," Salazar wrote on social media. "That is wrong. The United States must defend democracy, not distort it.”
She emphasized Guatemala’s crucial position as one of the last few “conservative” nations in Central America, amidst other socialist countries.
“Guatemala is one of the last conservative strongholds in Central America. We cannot let the Biden holdovers spread socialism across our hemisphere,” she concluded.
Salazar’s letter argues that the Guatemalan government and the Trump administration share common interests and values, and she urges the removal of former administration members to prevent them from interfering with the current administration’s interests.
“The values of Guatemala are the same values of President Trump and his Administration," she opined. "No State Department personnel remaining in their positions from the Biden Administration should be allowed to pursue their own socialist political agendas. We need to let Guatemala choose its judges on its own.”
The Congresswoman also makes a point to call for the removal of Ambassador Tobin Bradley and Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Ventrell due to their support of "socialist" judges and interference with the elections.
“The machinations of Ambassador Tobin Bradley and, especially, DCM Patrick Ventrell against conservatives in Guatemala and in favor of socialism should be unacceptable in the Trump Administration. Please remove both of them immediately from their posts,” Salazar concluded.
