Is Biden Meddling in Foreign Politics?

By

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken

WASHINGTON DC, May 10 (C-Fam) Members of the U.S. Congress are increasingly concerned that the Biden administration is meddling in Guatemalan internal politics. A second letter was just sent to the Biden administration demanding answers.

“Officials from the U.S. Department of State and USAID have no legitimate authority to press for ideological changes in Guatemala that compromise their Constitution or deeply held values concerning life and family,” reads the letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and USAID administrator Samantha Power.

Guatemalan leaders believe recent unprecedented support for liberal social policies by the usually conservative-leaning Guatemalan Congress is due to direct pressure and threats from the U.S. State Department. The Guatemalan Congress is now considering multiple bills on gender ideology and on comprehensive sexuality education.

The U.S. Congressional letter spearheaded by U.S. representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) questions the “misuse of the Administration’s influence in the legislative matters of the Guatemalan Congress.” It comes after the Biden administration revoked the visas of over 300 conservative civic and government leaders including family members, citing “anti-democratic” activity.

The letter cautions that “the Administration’s progressive ideological agenda is a national security concern as it is increasing anti-American sentiment abroad, particularly in conservative nations.” Members of the U.S. Congress say they are “disturbed by reports of the involvement of State officials in Guatemalan affairs” and that it was their duty to “exercise oversight of the executive branch.”

U.S. Congressional members asked Blinken and Power to provide information on activities pertaining to Guatemala government officials.  They questioned whether sanctions were being threatened against conservative members of the Guatemalan Congress that do not support the new president’s legislative agenda. The letter asks whether NGOs are receiving U.S. funding to implement “ideological changes,” and for information on the meetings Biden officials, including the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, are having with Guatemalan members of Congress.

The letter was released to coincide with Secretary Blinken’s trip to Guatemala this week. Blinken’s visit is believed to show support for Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s recent attempts to oust the current Attorney General.

Attorney General María Consuelo Porras was appointed to a second term by former president Alejandro Giammattei. She’s been criticized for ending an “anti-corruption agreement” with the United Nations known as CICIG which was supported by the Obama administration. Some U.S. senators and representatives however have spoken out against CICIG’s illegal actions in Guatemala.

Shortly after the announcement to unseat AG Porras, it was reported that members of the Guatemalan Congress were seen outside the residence of the U.S. ambassador.

Steps to remove AG Porras intensified when in late April her agency searched the office of the international non-governmental organization Save the Children over reports of child abuse. The ministry released a statement that Save the Children was being investigated for child trafficking for sending Guatemalan children to Texas illegally. It also contacted the Texas prosecutor’s office for assistance in the investigation.

The Biden administration border policies has led to millions of Central American migrants illegally entering the U.S. southern border including unaccompanied children.

This is the second Congressional letter concerning Guatemala in recent months. In early April a Congressional letter asked President Arevalo to resist Biden administration pressure to withdraw from a pro-life intergovernmental document.

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