WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States has banned former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez from entering the U.S. for his “involvement in significant corruption,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today.
“Today, I am announcing the designation of former Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez as generally ineligible for entry into the United States, due to his involvement in significant corruption,” Blinken said in a statement released by the State Department. “While serving as Panama’s vice president and then president, Varela accepted bribes in exchange for improperly awarding government contracts.”