Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras Addresses TSE Raid and Arrest

Guatemala City – In a significant development, authorities from the Public Ministry (MP) conducted a raid on the Human Resources area of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) located in Zone 3 of the city on Tuesday, June 17. The operation aimed to conduct an inspection, search, and seizure of evidence. During the operation, Angelita Carolina Martínez Rodas, identified as the former head of archives and leader of the entity's workers' union, was arrested. Upon her transfer to the Tower of Tribunals, Martínez stated that her arrest constituted an act of reprisal by officials from the organization who have been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for corruption. She further claimed to be a protected witness of the MP and had previously filed complaints regarding alleged electoral fraud, though she later ceased providing information and cooperating with the MP. Attorney General María Consuelo Porras Arqueta, through her official account, addressed the recent raid. She detailed that the action at the TSE represents a firm belief that "legality must operate in all institutions of the country." Porras affirmed that the Public Ministry's mission is to "deliver the truth to Guatemala." The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding electoral processes and institutional integrity in the nation.