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Biden seeks to block DOJ release of 2017 audio, court filing says

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President Joe Biden’s lawyers are expected to object to the Justice Department’s release of redacted written transcripts and audio recordings of Biden’s 2017 interactions with his book ghostwriter, according to a new court filing.

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«President Biden, through counsel, has advised the Department that he intends to seek to intervene to prevent any such disclosures,» Assistant Attorney General Civil Division Brett Shumate wrote in a filing from a Freedom of Information Act request from the Heritage Foundation’s Mike Howell. «The Department does not oppose intervention.»

There is a Tuesday deadline for Biden’s lawyers to respond to the DOJ’s release for a response to Howell’s FOIA request, which would come shortly after Tuesday if there was no objection.

Shumate noted the release of 70 hours of redacted recordings would be delayed until June 15 if Biden objects before the deadline.

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BIDEN INTERVIEW AUDIO REVEALS WHO BROUGHT UP BEAU’S DEATH — AND IT WASN’T HUR

Audio from former President Joe Biden’s 2017 interview with a ghostwriter was obtained by Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation during the Biden administration. (Getty Images)

«Defendant intends to disclose the written transcript and audio recordings at issue in this matter, with redactions, to Congress, pursuant to a request from the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, as well as to Plaintiffs,» the filing in Howell’s FOIA lawsuit with the DOJ read.

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The interactions came between Biden and his ghostwriter for the 2017 book: «Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.» The audio and transcript were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents after the Obama administration ended, which included storing them in his garage and at the Penn Biden Center.

«President Biden cooperated fully with special counsel Hur, and agreed to provide audiotapes of conversations with his biographer for a book about his deceased son on the condition that they would not be made public,» Biden spokesperson TJ Ducklo told Politico in a statement Sunday. «The DOJ themselves have said these tapes serve no public interest.

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS RELEASE OF JACK SMITH REPORT’S SECOND VOLUME

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TJ Ducklo speaking at the White House

Former President Joe Biden’s spokesman TJ Ducklo told Politico of the intentions of objecting to Tuesday’s release of audio and transcripts of Biden’s 2017 conversations with a ghostwriter. (Fox News)

«What’s happening now isn’t about transparency. It’s about politics,» Ducklo continued. «If this Administration were genuinely committed to transparency, they would release Volume 2 of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s own alleged mishandling of classified documents. That report contains information Americans actually deserve to see.»

Fox News reached out to Ducklo for independent confirmation on this report and has not yet heard back.

The FOIA requester remains in pursuit of the documents.

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CONSERVATIVES REACT TO LEAKED BIDEN AUDIO ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ‘THIS IS PAINFUL’

Special Counsel Robert Hur speaking with President Joe Biden

Special Counsel Robert Hur described President Joe Biden as «a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,» reflecting the impression Biden left on debate viewers. (Getty Images)

«These tapes will further prove the massive lie regarding Biden’s fitness for office and the fact Biden revealed classified information,» Howell, president of Heritage’s Oversight Project, told Politico. «The shenanigans aren’t over: At the last possible second, and after every delay tactic possible, the autopen is objecting to the American People receiving transparency. «

Hur concluded his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, noting longstanding DOJ policy of not indicting a sitting president and saying a jury would be sympathetic to the oldest sitting American president, 82, because he was a «well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.»

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«It appears that after lengthy negotiation covering several months — at no point seeking to intervene into this case on a timely basis — President Biden has changed position and now seeks to even enjoin release of the portions of transcripts that match exact phrases quoted in the Hur Report,» Shumate’s filing Friday read.

GREGG JARRETT: BIDEN, THE ‘MARIONETTE PRESIDENT; AND THE CASE OF THE RUNAWAY AUTOPEN

«The potential intervention by former President Biden and the new development of a discretionary release to the House Judiciary Committee in response to their March 23, 2026 letter, raises a number of issues»:

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«As Plaintiffs understand the matter, President Biden would need an order barring release in this case and an order enjoining the Department from producing to the House Judiciary Committee all by June 15, 2026.»

The DOJ also accuses Biden’s lawyers of slow-walking responses and rejecting deadlines.

BIDEN WHITE HOUSE AIDES FACE OVERSIGHT DEADLINE AMID THREAT OF SUBPOENAS

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«President Biden’s lead counsel was unable to provide any information about President Biden’s submissions arguing that such discussion was somehow premature (whereas, in reality it is 16 months late) and incredibly indicating that despite the June 15, 2026 production date, the motion to intervene would not be filed until mid-next week and that President Biden would seek up to three days after a ruling granting a motion to intervene to submit a proposed schedule for substantive relief,» the filing read.

«That is no way to conduct litigation and smacks of kicking the can down the road to justify delaying the June 15, 2026 production by some form of administrative injunction.»

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The DOJ issued a new warning of Tuesday’s deadline, regardless.

READ THE COURT FILING – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

«The public deserves to hear the tapes and read the transcripts as redacted by President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice,» Shumate’s filing concluded. «Plaintiffs regret that they are currently unable to assist the Court in this process due to the repeated failure of counsel for President Biden to engage with Plaintiffs on this matter, putting off even initial substantive conversations until next week.»

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Lindsey Graham’s final act reverberates in Senate as sister is urged to “keep pedaling»

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It was 2:35 am et Sunday.

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The phone rang, yanking me out of deep slumber.

Calls like these are never good.

In the split second before I answered the phone, my mind traveled to the obvious place for any journalist who covers Capitol Hill and gets a call at that hour.

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LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71

Former U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham hugs his sister Darline Graham Nordone on June 1, 2015, in South Carolina. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Surely it was about former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

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McConnell has been out of service and nowhere to be found for weeks — after being hospitalized with an unspecified illness. The internet was rife with conspiracy theories and conjecture. And, considering the dearth of information, I suspected the worst.

My longtime colleague Jodie Curtis was on the line when I picked up. Jodie is a senior figure at Fox, forced into weekend overnight assignment editor duty because of an illness. Jodie calling to tell me that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was dead.

«Graham?» I asked incredulously. «Not McConnell?»

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Emerging from my stupor, I instinctively presumed this might be about the infirm, Kentucky Republican. You’d have better odds presuming that overnight call was about McConnell than hitting an exacta wheel at Churchill Downs.

My instincts immediately kicked in.

What if this was psy-ops by the Russians, Chinese or Iranians. A rouse. A hoax. A hack.

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I told my colleague to just wait a moment while we confirmed. It would be easy to get this wrong.

Back in the 1990s, lawmakers «killed» comedian Bob Hope on the House floor, prematurely announcing his death during special orders speeches. Yours truly – and everyone else in Washington – prematurely reported the death of the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH). She suffered from a catastrophic brain aneurism. Yet after they removed the Congresswoman from life support, she continued to live for a few hours before dying.

However, it became clear that Lindsey Graham was indeed dead. I was quickly on the air. When asked about the shock of Graham passing, I invoked a Native American adage: Death comes. And it’s always out of season.

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Lindsey Graham was gone. But who would succeed him on Capitol Hill?

Think all in the family. At least for now.

Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Scott (R-SC) both implored the late senator’s kid sister Darline Graham to follow her brother. President Trump believed it would be a fitting tribute to the senator. So did South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) – who was in charge the appointment.

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«It’s my honor to ask his sister to finish his work now,» said McMaster.

Darline Graham is a political neophyte. Lindsey Graham adopted his sister after their parents died – and Darline was a teenager.

«Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him,» said now Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC).

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Lindsey Graham was his sister’s caretaker. Now she’s the caretaker of his Senate seat until January.

But who’s next?

South Carolina has a small Congressional delegation. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) quickly excluded himself from the immediate running, noting the importance of remaining in the House. Plucking one of South Carolina’s House GOP members and appointing them to the Senate is a problem for the narrow Republican majority. The Constitution bars appointments to the House. So McMaster would have diminished the GOP’s slim majority had he picked a House member to fill in for Lindsey Graham. It would take months to conduct a special election to fill the vacant House seat.

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Appointing Darline Graham solves that problem.

Reps. Russell Fry (R-SC), Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) are all interested in running for the full term. South Carolina will hold a snap primary in mid August. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Lindsey Graham had just secured the Republican nomination for a fifth term last month.

President Trump’s influence will play an outsized role in who gets the nod. He’s already singled out Fry.

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But the election will look a little different this fall. November will mark the first time since the mid-1950s that either Lindsey Graham or late, legendary Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) isn’t on the ballot in the Palmetto State.

The Senate met for the first time Monday afternoon since Graham’s passing.

«Lord, we remember with gratitude his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him and the many ways he sought to serve the people of this country. Give comfort, strength and peace to his family, friends, colleagues and all who mourn his passing,» prayed Senate Chaplain Barry Black.

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The Senate shrouded Graham’s desk with a black cloak. A bouquet of white roses rested on the desk, signifying a new beginning without a Senate titan.

«The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him,» said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

‘THIS IS NOT NORMAL’: AOC UNLOADS ON MCCONNELL’S PROLONGED ABSENCE

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Lindsey Graham attends a press conference at the U.S. Capitol.

Former Sen. Lindsey Graham attends a press conference on border security at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on December 7, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Well wishers left notecards and flowers outside Graham’s office in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Senators praised Graham’s tenacity.

«He didn’t want to just argue about things. He wanted to actually solve things,» said Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) on Fox.

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Even until the end.

Over the weekend, Graham appeared to forge a deal on a Russia sanctions measure.

«This could be well, this could well be the end of the war in Ukraine. It could put all the pressure on Russia to finally end their illegal war of aggression,» predicted Sen. Angus King (I-ME).

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Lindsey Graham first won a seat in Congress in 1994 as part of the «Republican Revolution.» That’s the historic class which flipped control of the House for the first time in 40 years. Graham and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) are the only members from that 1994 class still serving in Congress.

Graham earned a national profile barely four years after arriving in Washington. House GOP leaders tapped Graham to serve as one of the House «managers,» prosecuting articles of impeachment for President Clinton in the Senate.

«Impeachment is not about punishment,» argued Graham before the Senate in January, 1999. «Impeachment is about cleansing the office.»

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Three years after that, Graham left the House. He became one of 100 in the Senate. But his colleagues conceded that the institution felt hollow at just 99.

«I am comforted by the knowledge that in the end, he has just changed his address. And that one day, Mr. President….» said Thune on the floor, pausing for ten seconds. «We will laugh together again.»

The Leader’s voice then cracked as he fought back tears.

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«Mr. President, I yield the floor,» Thune whispered.

By Tuesday afternoon, Darline Graham became the 2,022nd senator in American history. But the first to immediately succeed her brother.

«He always said that his greatest accomplishment was the way that Darline turned out,» said Britt.

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«I’m glad that there will be another Sen. Graham and that Darline will serve with us,» said

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). «That’ll allow for some continuity.»

Graham’s passing leaves a Congressional chasm.

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«It will be difficult to pass anything without Sen. Graham because he’s been such a significant voice in the Senate,» said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

It’s unclear if any of that will fall to the Senate’s newest member.

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR’S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA’S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR

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Darline Graham Nordone speaks during a press conference outside a building in Columbia, South Carolina.

Darline Graham Nordone speaks during a press conference outside the governor’s South Carolina State House office in Columbia. (Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)

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Darline Graham joined her brother’s side when he briefly ran for President in 2015. She says Lindsey taught her how to ride a bike while growing up.

«He would hold on to the bicycle as I pedaled. And he’d run along beside of me. Give me a big push and shout ‘Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling!’ said the new senator. » And then he was the one who comforted me when I stopped pedaling and fell off the bicycle.»

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Today, Darline Graham is again hopping onto that bicycle to finish Lindsey Graham’s term.

You can almost hear the late senator, in his «upstate» twang shouting to his sister «Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling!»

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Guatemala: Envían a prisión a joven de 19 años por el secuestro del odontólogo Julio Martínez

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El Juzgado de Mayor Riesgo B de Guatemala ligó a proceso a Andrés Alcázar Crespo por el secuestro del odontólogo Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo. (Cortesía)

El Juzgado de Mayor Riesgo B de Guatemala ligó a proceso a Andrés Alcázar Crespo, de 19 años, quien es señalado dentro del caso de secuestro del odontólogo Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo, ocurrido en 2025.

El joven continuará en prisión preventiva en la cárcel Mariscal Zavala hasta que se realice la audiencia de etapa intermedia, prevista para el 29 de septiembre, acusado del delito de plagio o secuestro en grado de cómplice.

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Según la información presentada por el Ministerio Público (MP), Alcázar Crespo habría adquirido cinco tarjetas SIM utilizadas para efectuar las llamadas en las que se exigió a la familia de la víctima un rescate de Q5 millones (más de medio millón de dólares).

Durante la audiencia de primera declaración que se llevó a cabo este miércoles 15 de julio, la Fiscalía sostuvo que esas tarjetas se emplearon para negociar la liberación del profesional, quien fue privado de libertad mientras se trasladaba a su clínica en la capital guatemalteca y aún sigue desaparecido.

El juez señaló que la resolución se dicta conforme al artículo 320 del Código Procesal Penal, aunque no se aceptó el grado de participación solicitado por el MP y decidió imputarlo únicamente como cómplice del delito de secuestro.

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Durante la diligencia, Andrés Alcázar argumentó la pérdida de su billetera, en donde se encontraba Documento Personal de Identificación (DPI), el cual, según la ley guatemalteca, debe de presentar para comprar las tarjetas SIM. Esta medida se tomó desde 2013, con el propósito de reducir las extorsiones.

El Juzgado de Mayor Riesgo B de Guatemala ligó a proceso a Andrés Alcázar Crespo, de 19 años, quien es señalado dentro del caso de secuestro del odontólogo Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo
Andrés Alcázar Crespo seguirá en prisión preventiva en Mariscal Zavala hasta la audiencia de etapa intermedia prevista para el 29 de septiembre. (Cortesía)

En su intervención, aseguró: “Sé que se me acusa por comprar cinco chips o SIM. Yo no hice ninguna de esas acciones; aunque un pariente, un familiar, un ser querido o un amigo me lo hubiera pedido, yo no lo hubiera hecho. No hago ese tipo de favores”.

Para justificarlo, el señalado afirmó que en 2025 perdió su DPI en dos ocasiones, la primera vez el 29 de abril, cuando extravió su billetera con la identificación y la licencia de conducir, y la segunda el 12 de diciembre, tras dejar su mochila en un baño durante una sesión de fotografías navideñas, pero no presentó pruebas como las denuncias correspondientes en la Policía Nacional Civil o en el Ministerio Público.

La Fiscalía interrogó a Alcázar Crespo sobre su relación con otros implicados en el expediente y solicitó información sobre su cuenta de Instagram. No obstante, el acusado reiteró que lleva una vida enfocada en el estudio y la actividad deportiva, y se describió como una persona descuidada con sus pertenencias, aunque rechazó que ese hecho pueda ser utilizado para implicarlo en un delito.

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“Yo de verdad he tratado de hacer las cosas bien, me dedico al estudio. Paso la mayor parte del tiempo haciendo ejercicio. Sé que soy muy descuidado con mi billetera, pero eso no me hace ningún delincuente”, expresó ante el juez.

Andrés Alcázar Crespo, de 19 años, señalado como cómplice en el secuestro del odontólogo guatemalteco Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo, niega la acusación y justifica que perdió su billetera con sus documentos personales en dos ocasiones. (Soy502)

Alcázar Crespo fue capturado el 9 de julio en la Ciudad de Guatemala. Es el sexto detenido en el caso del secuestro del odontólogo. Según la Policía Nacional Civil integra la estructura a la que ahora identifican como “Escorpión”.

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El caso se remonta al 28 de mayo de 2025, cuando Julio Martínez fue secuestrado y su familia recibió llamadas exigiendo el pago del rescate. En agosto de ese año, la Fiscalía contra el Delito de Secuestro realizó varios allanamientos que terminaron con la captura de cinco personas vinculadas a la estructura criminal.

La familia pagó el rescate por Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo, pero la víctima no fue liberada y su paradero sigue sin conocerse.
Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo fue secuestrado el 28 de mayo de 2025 en el ingreso de la aldea Jocotillo, en Villa Canales.

Entre los sindicados, figura Julio Leonardo Alejandro Girón Castañeda, señalado como líder del grupo y amigo de la víctima, quien habría vigilado al odontólogo antes del secuestro. También fueron detenidos Juan Ubaldo Tzun Castillo, Julio Oswaldo Tzun, Paola Isabel de Tzun y Carlos Antonio González González, este último identificado como el negociador de la banda. Una mujer, identificada como Quiñónez Corado, permanece prófuga.

El pasado 28 de mayo, el mismo juzgado envió a juicio a los cinco primeros implicados por el delito de plagio o secuestro. Según las fuentes citadas, la audiencia de etapa intermedia para Andrés Alcázar definirá si el caso avanza a juicio oral y público.



Guatemala,Odontólogo,Secuestro,Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo,Andrés Alcázar Crespo

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Keiko Fujimori recibió las credenciales de presidenta electa de Perú y prometió una «reconciliación» tras una década de crisis política

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La conservadora Keiko Fujimori recibió el miércoles sus credenciales de ganadora de las elecciones presidenciales de Perú en una ceremonia en la que prometió “gobernar para todos” aunque enfocando su gestión en la cuarta parte de la población en situación de pobreza, sobre todo en los Andes y la Amazonía.

En el acto celebrado en un teatro de Lima, el titular del Jurado Nacional de Elecciones le entregó un documento a la líder de Fuerza Popular que certifica su triunfo por casi 50.000 votos sobre el candidato progresista Roberto Sánchez, de Juntos por el Perú, en el balotaje del 7 de junio.

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La presidenta electa, de 51 años, hija del fallecido mandatario Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), dijo que su gobierno estará integrado “por reconocidos técnicos, sin importar su militancia partidaria”, y resolverá los problemas urgentes del país. Asimismo señaló que su gestión rendirá cuentas de los recursos públicos.

Fujimori dijo que combatirá la desnutrición que afecta al 12,1% de menores de cinco años, así como la pobreza que golpea al 25,7% de la población, es decir casi 9 millones de personas a quienes no les alcanza para cubrir el costo de la canasta básica de consumo que incluye alimentos, bienes y servicios esenciales.

También indicó que cree «profundamente en la reconciliación». “He aprendido de mis errores y aciertos, de los momentos difíciles, de los momentos alegres, he aprendido a pedir perdón, pero sobre todo a perdonar”, dijo en medio de un coro de simpatizantes que gritaban “sí se pudo” y “Keiko valiente, aquí está tu gente”.

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Añadió que al final de su mandato rendirá “cuentas ante Dios y la historia y lo haré con la frente en alto porque tengan la certeza que habré puesto todo mi empeño y voluntad para sacar adelante a nuestro Perú”.

Más temprano Fujimori -vestida con traje sastre de color crema- había salido de su casa a diez cuadras del Gran Teatro Nacional acompañada de sus dos hijas de 18 y 17 años. Subieron a una camioneta blanca de una compañía de alquiler de autos. La dirigente saludó, pero no hizo declaraciones a la prensa.

Cuando asuma el poder el 28 de julio, Fujimori será la primera mujer en alcanzar la presidencia por unas elecciones en 205 años de república. La gestión presidencial es por cinco años.

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Perú fue gobernado antes por otra mujer Dina Boluarte (2022-2025)- que sucedió, por ser vicepresidenta, al ex presidente Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), quien fue removido por el Congreso. El gobierno de Boluarte fue el más impopular de Perú.

Fujimori ha prometido gobernar “por cinco años”, a diferencia de su padre quien inició su gobierno en 1990 pero buscó permanecer en poder y fue reelegido en 1995 y en 2000. Luego abandonó Perú a fines de 2000 en medio de escándalos de corrupción y huyó a Japón. Después fue extraditado desde Chile, a donde había llegado de forma sorpresiva, y luego fue condenado por corrupción y asesinato. Fue excarcelado tras un indulto presidencial en 2023 y murió en libertad en 2024.

Fuera del Gran Teatro Nacional llegaron más de 300 personas con banderas de Perú, algunos con chaquetas de color naranja, el color de Fuerza Popular, pero también el mismo que el ex presidente Fujimori usó desde su primera campaña presidencial en 1990 bajo el lema “honradez, tecnología y trabajo”.

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Consuelo Castellares, una abogada que llegó desde la región andina de Huancavelica, dijo a The Associated Press que la principal preocupación de Fujimori debería ser la educación. Indicó que en los últimos 25 años los maestros de escuela “han lavado el cerebro a los estudiantes”, por lo que ahora hay fuerte oposición a ella.

“Le diría Keiko no seas como tu papá porque él dejó agonizando a los terroristas que hoy están en el Estado, tienes que poner mano dura con esas personas que han lavado el cerebro y han generado polarización”, indicó Castellares, quien añadió que tras los gobiernos posteriores a Fujimori existe una fuerte “ausencia del Estado”.

Keiko Fujimori iniciará su gestión en medio de protestas de Sánchez, quien la semana pasada aceptó a regañadientes el triunfo de la conservadora en el balotaje donde se enfrentaron. Fujimori triunfó por los votos claves de los peruanos en el extranjero; dentro del territorio ganó el progresista, según datos oficiales.

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Sánchez convocó a una manifestación esta tarde por las calles de Lima exigiendo la liberación del expresidente Castillo, sentenciado a más de 11 años de cárcel por conspiración para la rebelión luego de ser detenido en diciembre de 2022.

Meses después hubo manifestaciones a su favor reprimidas por la policía y militares que dejaron 50 civiles asesinados.

Sánchez también pedirá justicia por esos manifestantes asesinados por las fuerzas de seguridad durante la gestión de Boluarte, un gobierno apoyado por el partido de Fujimori.

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