Campaign Chief Accused Of Drug Ties

Prosecutors charged President Ernesto Samper’s campaign director Monday with taking money from drug traffickers in last year’s election and falsifying documents to hide the contributions.

Fernando Botero, who resigned as defense minister on Aug. 2, was ordered held without bail, Prosecutor General Alfonso Valdivieso’s office announced.

The charges against Botero mean prosecutors have enough evidence to doubt his denials that the Cali cartel funded Samper’s election campaign, and throws doubt on the president’s own denials.

Botero denied the charges in a statement Monday night.

“I accept them with the strength and serenity that my innocence gives me,” Botero said.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.