Boluarte rejected the accusation and maintained that it is “a despicable political maneuver” that seeks to distract public opinion from the serious situation Benavides is immersed in, as she was identified by the team of anti-corruption prosecutors, as the head of a criminal organization dedicated to influence peddling.
The accusation includes the former Ministers of the Interior, César Cervantes, Víctor Rojas, and Vicente Romero, and the Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola, who stated last night that the prosecutor opened investigations against him for almost anything, and suggested that she “take charge of her own acts.”
When announcing the complaint, Benavides ruled out resigning as demanded by the Board of Supreme Prosecutors, which has the power to suspend and investigate her. Moreover, left-wing congresswoman Ruth Luque presented an accusation in Parliament against the National Prosecutor for constitutional infringement.
In addition, the National Human Rights Coordinator requested her removal from office, while the Association of Judges for Justice and Democracy called on the National Board of Justice (JNJ), which can suspend or dismiss Benavides, to take urgent measures to help the Public Ministry to get out of the institutional crisis.”
The prosecutor is being questioned for allegedly leading a criminal organization that used the Public Ministry to conspire with at least 45 of the 130 parliamentarians to remove her predecessor, Zoraida Ávalos.
The anti-corruption team also maintains that she conspired to appoint to Parliament the Ombudsman, Josué Gutiérrez, and to encourage the dismissal of members of the JNJ, which appoints and dismisses judges and prosecutors.
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