Reply #2: Drug scandal inches closer to Colombian government

[Judi Lynn]

Drug scandal inches closer to Colombian government
By Hugh Bronstein
REUTERS

11:09 a.m. September 25, 2008

BOGOTA – The brother of Colombia's justice minister was arrested Thursday as part of an organized crime probe linking dozens of political allies of President Alvaro Uribe to the country's cocaine trade. Guillermo Valencia, brother of cabinet member Fabio Valencia, was the city of Medellin's chief prosecutor when he was recorded on a wiretap making statements suggesting that he colluded with a wanted drug lord.

He denies any wrongdoing and the minister says he will not step down.
The arrest comes as about 60 members of Colombia's Congress, most from Uribe's conservative coalition, face charges of using drug-running paramilitary thugs to intimidate voters.

U.S. Democrats are blocking a trade deal with Colombia based on concerns that Uribe has not done enough to crack down on paramilitaries who have killed labor union leaders.

Colombia's Cambio magazine broke the news of the wiretaps, prompting the national attorney general's office to investigate suspicions that Guillermo Valencia was linked to former right-wing paramilitary commander Daniel “Don Mario” Rendon.

More:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080925-1109-colombia-scandal-.html