Rep. Grijalva Expresses Deep Concern Following Killing of Suspects in Assassination of Ecuadorian Pr
OCTOBER 13TH, 2023
Rep. Grijalva Expresses Deep Concern Following Killing of Suspects in Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate
WASHINGTON -Rep. Grijalva released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation in Ecuador. On Friday, six men arrested in connection with the August 9th assassination of Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio were killed while in jail; a seventh suspect was found dead in another jail the next morning.
“I am deeply concerned with news of the death of individuals under government custody who were suspects in the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Villavicencio. This failure to protect people in custody, which could have provided critical information on this assassination is inexcusable. It raises more doubts and concerns about connections between government officials and organized crime in Ecuador, especially at a critical juncture of the Nation’s history,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva.
“Given the high-profile and sensitive nature of this case, these individuals were at greater risk of being harmed or killed in jail. Even journalists who try to cover the news of organized crime and their relations with authorities face attacks and death threats forcing them to flee the country. The situation could have been prevented by keeping the suspects in a safe location and providing them with protection. The decision by government officials to not do this raises many questions.”
“Given the involvement of U.S. law enforcement and the Department of State in investigating this high-profile crime, we urge the Department of State to press Ecuadorian authorities for answers regarding this major security failure.”
After the assassination of Villavicencio, the Biden administration sent the FBI to help investigate. Less than two weeks ago, a reward offer of up to $5 million “for information leading to the arrest or conviction of co-conspirators and masterminds behind the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio” was announced. An additional reward of up to $1 million “for information leading to the identification or location of any individual holding a key leadership position in the Transnational Organized Crime group responsible for Mr. Villavicencio’s homicide,” was then offered.
In April, Rep. Grijalva led Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Biden, noting that “Investigative journalists have uncovered what appears to be a web of corruption that ties key associates of Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso to organized crime figures.” Further, the letter documented how the government intervened to stymie the judicial investigation. Members sent a follow-up letter in June after another key witness in the scheme was assassinated.
More:
https://grijalva.house.gov/rep-grijalva-expresses-deep-concern-following-killing-of-suspects-in-assassination-of-ecuadorian-presidential-candidate/