The United States has banned former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez from entering the country because of his “involvement in significant corruption”. According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while serving as Vice President and then President, Varela accepted bribes in exchange for the award of government contracts. Along with former President Ricardo Martinelli and several other high-profile officials, Varela is due for trial in Panama later this year on money laundering charges relating to the Odebrecht bribery probe. Varela served as President from 2014 to 2019. Both Varela and Martinelli were banned from leaving Panama in 2020 when the investigations began. See
