La ex primera dama peruana Nadine Heredia arribó el miércoles a Brasil junto a su hijo menor tras recibir asilo de ese país luego de que ella y su esposo, el ex presidente Ollanta Humala, fueran sentenciados a 15 años de prisión por lavado de dinero proveniente de la constructora brasileña Odebrecht.

Julio Espinoza, el abogado en Perú de Heredia, confirmó por teléfono a The Associated Press que ella y el menor de sus tres hijos arribaron a Brasilia y aún no se sabe a qué ciudad irán posteriormente.

Un portavoz de la cancillería brasileña confirmó a AP que Heredia, de 48 años, y Samir Humala, de 14, llegaron a la capital de ese país, sin dar más detalles.

El abogado de la ex primera dama peruana indicó más temprano a la radio local RPP que Heredia y su hijo habían partido de Lima a las cuatro de la madrugada en un avión oficial que había “enviado el gobierno brasileño para ejecutar esa decisión de ambos Estados”.

Perú otorgó el martes salvoconductos para que Heredia y su hijo viajaran a Brasil luego de que un tribunal condenó a la pareja y ordenó su traslado inmediato a prisión. La condena para Humala y Heredia finaliza el 28 de julio de 2039.

Humala, quien asistió a la audiencia, fue enviado a una cárcel para ex presidentes y su esposa, que no asistió al tribunal, se refugió en la embajada brasileña junto a su hijo.

La cancillería peruana informó la noche del martes en un comunicado que Brasil le había otorgado el asilo diplomático a Heredia y a su hijo en aplicación de una convención sobre asilo de 1954 de la que ambos Estados son parte. Añadió que Brasil “solicitó la salida de los asilados” invocando artículos de esa convención.

Wilfredo Pedraza, abogado de Humala, indicó el martes a AP que Heredia y su hijo saldrían de Lima a bordo de un avión de la Fuerza Aérea brasileña.

Según el fallo de la Corte Superior Nacional de Perú, Humala y Heredia recibieron cerca de tres millones de dólares en aportes ilegales para las campañas presidenciales de 2006 y 2011 por parte de Odebrecht y del gobierno del entonces presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). Humala y Heredia han negado hasta el final los cargos imputados.

El hermano de la ex primera dama, Ilán Heredia, también fue condenado a 12 años de cárcel por lavado de activos.

Humala, un militar retirado del Ejército de 62 años, llegó al poder en 2011 tras vencer en segunda vuelta a la política derechista Keiko Fujimori.

La pareja estuvo presa de forma preventiva entre 2017 y 2018 por pedido de la fiscalía para evitar una fuga pese a que ambos siempre asistieron a las audiencias.

No es la primera solicitud de asilo en tiempos recientes. En 2018, el ex presidente Alan García (1985-1990 y 2006-2011), entonces investigado por presuntos sobornos de Odebrecht, lo pidió sin éxito tras permanecer por más de dos semanas en la embajada de Uruguay.

Sí tuvo suerte Lilia Paredes, esposa del ex presidente Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), quien ingresó a la embajada de México el 7 de diciembre de 2022 junto a sus dos hijos, con quienes abandonó Perú dos semanas después. Castillo fue detenido ese mismo día tras intentar disolver el Congreso.

Humala es el tercer ex mandatario peruano condenado a prisión en casi dos décadas luego de que en 2024 Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) fue sentenciado a 20 años y seis meses por corrupción y lavado de activos por recibir dinero de Odebrecht y el fallecido Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) recibiera en 2009 tres sentencias por corrupción y otra adicional como autor intelectual de 25 asesinatos.

Heredia es la primera esposa de un mandatario peruano en ser condenada. Ambos tienen tres hijos de 23, 21 y 14 años.

Odebrecht admitió en 2016 que pagó millonarios sobornos a políticos de casi toda Latinoamérica a cambio de obtener obras públicas. Las primeras investigaciones fiscales contra Humala empezaron en 2015, un año antes de que Odebrecht comenzara a delatar a políticos de todo el continente.

La mayoría de los presidentes que gobernaron Perú desde 2001 tienen cuentas pendientes con la justicia por sus nexos con la constructora brasileña.

Toledo está preso cumpliendo una sentencia, el ex presidente Pedro Pablo Kuczynski está bajo prisión domiciliaria y García se suicidó en 2019 minutos antes de ser detenido por una orden fiscal mientras era investigado por los presuntos sobornos recibidos de Odebrecht.

Castillo también está preso de forma preventiva por tres años mientras es procesado por rebelión e investigado por presunta corrupción.

Desde la noche del martes Toledo, Castillo y Humala comparten la misma cárcel construida en 2007 para recluir a expresidentes sentenciados y donde permaneció Fujimori hasta fines de 2023, cuando salió. Murió 10 meses después en libertad.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is considering a bid for governor in 2026, multiple sources close to her confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Stefanik was withdrawn from consideration as President Donald Trump’s United Nations Ambassador to shore up numbers of the House Republicans’ narrow majority. She is now the chairwoman of House Republican Leadership.

Sources tell Fox News Digital that she is being encouraged to run by allies of Trump and longtime friends. Stefanik outperformed the president in her congressional district in 2016, 2020 and 2024, which one source says could be an indicator that she could do well with New York’s swing voters.  The Republican won with 62% of the vote in her strongly conservative district in November.

On Wednesday, Stefanik made the case for a GOP win in New York this year when she commented on a Marist poll that shows Governor Hochul’s approval numbers to be underwater with NY voters. «This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK. Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close.» 

Her incompetence, corruption, and radical failed Far Left policies have destroyed our great state causing businesses and families to flee from crushing high taxes, out of control regulations, inept fiscal mismanagement, wide open border sanctuary city policies putting illegals first and New Yorkers last, and an out of control crime crisis due to Democrats’ failed bail reform defund the police policies.This polling shows that we can WIN & SAVE NEW YORK.», Hochul said in the statement.

HARVARD IS ‘ACTING MORE ENTITLED THAN EVER,’ SAYS GOP CONGRESSWOMAN

«Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!» Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday morning.

She has $10 million cash-on-hand through her entities, and is considered popular among Republican voters in the state. Stefanik was the keynote speaker at a New York GOP event on Tuesday night.

At the time of her nomination’s withdrawl, the Republican congresswoman said it was a matter of holding the line in Congress.

«I have been proud to be a team player. The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents,» Stefanik said on «Hannity» last month.

REP. ELISE STEFANIK EXPLAINS HER ‘TEAM PLAYER’ DECISION TO STAY IN CONGRESS

House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., listens as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump said he would work on finding a replacement pick, which has not been announced yet.

«As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,» the president posted to Truth Social at the time. 

«I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,.»

Whoever wins the primary could be running in the general election against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had a tough fight against now-Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in 2022, when he was in Congress at the time.

SANCTUARY GOVERNORS WALZ, PRITZKER, HOCHUL CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has been outspoken about her thoughts on the controversial tolling program. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Stefanik is far from the only well-known Republican in New York State considering a 2026 run for governor.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R_N.Y., a moderate who’s in his second term representing the state’s 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City’s northern suburbs, is mulling a bid.

«I’ll make a decision at some point – middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we’re going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard,» Lawler said last week in an interview with Fox News Digital.

He added, «I haven’t made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there’s a number of factors in play, but you know, we’re working through that right now.»

Among the other Republicans weighing a gubernatorial run are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, who like Stefanik is a major Trump ally and longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr.

It’s been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York State. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki’s second re-election victory in 2002.

«New York’s Republican primary is set to be a nasty and vicious race to see who can be the Trumpiest – and most out of touch with New Yorkers,» Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said. «All three potential candidates in this race are running to bring Donald Trump’s extreme agenda of raising costs and taking away fundamental freedoms to Albany – and could not be more out of step with New York.»

FILE – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at podium, speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo, File)

But Hochul’s approval ratings and favorable ratings remain underwater, giving Republicans hope the losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential, longshot primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.

In 2022, Zeldin had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki’s 2002 victory. Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in President Donald Trump’s second administration, lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points.

And Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November’s presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

«What is really telling is that you have three, at least, very qualified Republican candidates looking at it,» a veteran Republican strategist who works on New York State races told Fox News. «I think it shows her [Hochul’s]  vulnerability.»

Stefanik’s departure could still have an impact on House Republicans’ razor-thin three-seat majority, but GOP leaders hope to be done with their plans for a massive conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process by the end of this year.

If elected governor, Stefanik would not have to leave the House until the end of December 2025.

Her vote was critical to advancing the legislation earlier this month. The bill appeared at risk of failing during a tense procedural vote last week, but Stefanik – who was among the last to cast her vote – carried it over the like 216 to 215.

Fox News’ Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom unanimously ruled Wednesday that a woman is someone born biologically female, a move that now excludes transgender women from the legal definition of a woman.

Trans women can be excluded from some single-sex spaces and groups under the U.K. Equality Act, the five judges of the top court ruled. These spaces and groups include changing rooms, homeless shelters, swimming areas and medical or counseling services provided only to women.

The ruling means that even a transgender person with a certificate that recognizes them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.

But Justice Patrick Hodge said its ruling «does not remove protection from trans people,» who are «protected from discrimination on the ground of gender reassignment.»

TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST CLAIMS ‘SCIENCE IS ON OUR SIDE’ WHILE PUSHING DEMOCRATS TO FIGHT BACK ON THE ISSUE

«Interpreting ‘sex’ as certificated sex would cut across the definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ … and, thus, the protected characteristic of sex in an incoherent way,» Hodge said. «It would create heterogeneous groupings.»

Women’s rights groups celebrated the ruling outside the court.

The U.K. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that a woman is someone born biologically female. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

«Everyone knows what sex is and you can’t change it,» said Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which brought the case. «It’s common sense, basic common sense and the fact that we have been down a rabbit hole where people have tried to deny science and to deny reality and hopefully this will now see us back to, back to reality.»

Women’s rights activists hold signs outside the Supreme Court amid a challenge to gender recognition laws in London on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST PARENTS SEEKING TO PROTEST TRANSGENDER ATHLETES WITH WRISTBAND

Hannah Ford, an employment lawyer, said that while the judgment will provide clarity on the controversial issue in the U.K., it would be a setback for transgender rights and there would be «an uphill battle» to ensure workplaces are welcoming places for trans people.

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«This will be really wounding for the trans community,» Ford told Sky News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.