International
Senator Menéndez plans to resign in August after being found guilty of corruption in the United States
U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez plans to resign on August 20 after being found guilty of all the charges in a corruption trial in New York last week and in the face of the threat of expulsion of other politicians from the Democratic Party.
According to the local media New Jersey Globe, which cites three sources familiar with the matter, Menéndez could publish his resignation letter today, while Axios anticipates that the senator’s employees were informed on Tuesday of the plans to leave office in August.
Menéndez, 70 years old and of Cuban origin, entered the U.S. Senate in 2006 and came to the position of president of the influential Foreign Relations Committee of the chamber, a position he abandoned after the indictment, unlike the seat for New Jersey, which he has resisted leaving.
The Prosecutor’s Office accused Menéndez and his wife, Nadine, of accepting luxury gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz and gold bars, from three New Jersey businessmen – also accused – in exchange for political favors for the Governments of Egypt and Qatar, to the point of qualifying him as a “foreign agent.”
Menéndez maintained his innocence and refused to sign a guilt agreement that could have reduced his sentence; he also did not testify during the trial of more than two months, but he described in public the gifts received as something natural in the activity of a politician.
The senator had about six months left in office and ran for re-election as an independent after the break with his party; now that his seat is unoccupied, it will be the governor of New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy, who chooses his replacement.
Possible candidates include the first lady, Tammy Murphy; the deputy governor, Tahesha Way; former Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and the judge of the U.S. District Court. Esther Salas.
The leader of the Senate, Democrat Chuck Schumer, again asked for Menéndez’s resignation after the verdict was known, but among the chorus of voices in the Upper House, those demanding his expulsion begin to be heard, a highly unusual measure that requires a vote and a two-thirds majority.
The sentence against Menéndez will be announced on October 29 and faces a maximum penalty of 222 years in prison, although the sentence will probably be much lower because he has no history.
The still senator faced another trial for corruption – not related to the recent charges – in 2017 but the jury did not reach unanimity in the verdict, so the process was declared null and void.
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
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