Following initial media reports, U.S. officials have clarified that Colombian President Gustavo Petro is not a target of any criminal investigation by U.S. authorities. The clarification came after The New York Times reported on March 21, 2026, that two separate U.S. federal investigations were examining potential links between people close to President Petro and alleged campaign finance violations tied to drug trafficking proceeds.
According to the report, one investigation, led by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, is examining whether money from drug trafficking was used to help finance Petro's 2022 presidential campaign. A second probe, overseen by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, is reportedly investigating whether Petro's son, NicolΓ‘s Petro, and his former chief of staff, Laura Sarabia, received money from drug traffickers.
In response to the reports, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State stated that the United States maintains a strong partnership with Colombia and respects its democratic processes. President Petro has publicly denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations a political attack. The Colombian Attorney General's office has also opened its own investigation into the campaign finance allegations.
The situation highlights ongoing concerns about the influence of drug trafficking money in Colombian politics. U.S. and Colombian authorities continue to collaborate on security matters, though these specific investigations remain active and are led independently by U.S. federal prosecutors.
