The political party Ahora Nacion backed deputy Harvey Colchado after the Public Ministry requested a nine-year prison sentence against the lawmaker. Prosecutors charged Colchado, a former head of the High Complexity Crime Investigation Division, with alleged incompatible negotiation as an accomplice and ideological falsehood as an author.
Ahora Nacion, also known as the helmet party, rejected the allegations in a statement following the publication of the investigation. The party described the legal action as part of a smear campaign, stating that the facts under investigation hold no criminal relevance and do not constitute a crime. The party added that the Public Ministry cannot be used politically to invent charges and intimidate opposition figures.
Objections to Timing and Motives
The party emphasized that the prosecution requested prison time just as Colchado began assuming his duties as a deputy in the Congress of the Republic. Colchado recently took office as second vice president of the Chamber of Deputies and secured a key position on the Ethics Commission.
Ahora Nacion stated that Colchado spent years fighting organized crime and corruption with impartiality and firmness without distinction. The party noted that his work forced him to confront interests that occupied positions of power across state institutions over the past decade. According to the party, those same sectors now seek to stop Colchado from applying that same commitment to integrity and transparency on the Ethics Commission.
Rejection of Prosecutor Allegations
Colchado separately rejected the allegations put forward by the Public Ministry, asserting that the actions against him will not succeed in intimidating him. The former head of the High Complexity Crime Investigation Division stated that as a citizen and deputy he holds absolute conviction in his innocence regarding the charges.
The lawmaker noted that throughout his professional career he has fully respected and will continue to respect the autonomy of the Public Ministry and the independence of the Judiciary. He stated that anyone who has dedicated their entire life to enforcing the law will never place themselves above it.
Colchado also questioned why the complaints surfaced precisely as he assumed new leadership roles in Congress. He affirmed that he will not allow any investigation to be used as a tool or instrument of political pressure.
