Three days after entering the Clinton List, Colombia's Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed the cancellation of one of his credit cards. President Gustavo Petro questioned national banks for allegedly obeying US laws over Colombian ones. The list inclusion impacts Petro, his family, and Benedetti, sparking financial and political tensions.
The Clinton List, a US Treasury Department file linked to narcotraffic ties, recently included President Gustavo Petro, his wife Verónica Alcocer, his son Nicolás Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, making them the first officials from a Colombian government to appear on it.
Benedetti, in a statement to media on October 27, 2025, confirmed that three days after his entry on the list, one of his credit cards was canceled. He expressed fear of bank account closures but invoked a 1999 ruling protecting consumer rights, stating he would appeal to the Superintendencia Financiera if needed. "I have no money, no assets, no accounts in the United States; the Clinton List has hit me very hard, it's been disconcerting because the consequences are quite serious," he said. He clarified his inclusion stems from political acts, like statements defending Petro from narcotraffic accusations, not campaign remarks. "It's quite unfair because I have nothing to do with narcotraffic or terrorism," he complained, comparing the sanction to placing him next to Osama bin Laden.
For his part, Petro posted on X the same day, questioning Colombian banks for allegedly refusing to open him an account: "To which country do the national banks obey like servants? Don't the banks have a homeland?". He called the stance a "rudeness" and "disrespect to the country," recalling his personal history with over 14 years of mortgage debt and prior account seizures.
In the sanctions context, Petro stated Alcocer has been separated from him for years, though a legal tie remains, and the sanction causes her gratuitous harm. However, councilor Daniel Briceño contradicted this, citing Petro's November 1, 2024, conflicts of interest declaration where he recognized her as spouse: "It's false that Petro and Verónica Alcocer have been ‘separated for years’".
Benedetti confessed uncertainty about his financial future, suggesting ministry cash payments, and remains in shock from the impact.
