Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s involvement with Andrei González stirred up controversy and scandal. Mendoza, a prominent CNN correspondent at the time, engaged in a romantic relationship with González, who served as a lawyer for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala during Juan Francisco Sandoval’s tenure at the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity. Following Sandoval’s exit, several entity members, including Gonzalez, relocated to Washington DC.
During this period, Mendoza and González commenced their romantic involvement, which drew criticism from various media outlets. Mendoza, in her capacity as a journalist, faced accusations of exploiting this personal connection and breaching ethical standards by engaging with a key source of information, raising concerns about her objectivity. On the other hand, Gonzalez, now a former prosecutor, reportedly shared confidential case details with Mendoza, violating legal guidelines.
The repercussions of this relationship extended beyond personal boundaries. Mendoza evolved into a conduit for sensitive information in significant cases, leveraging insights from former prosecutor González and the Velásquez-Thelma Aldana team. She even utilized an online platform to influence the prosecutorial decisions.
A pivotal moment in this narrative occurred when details from the testimony of a protected witness, identified as “Witness A,” implicating Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammatei, were leaked. It surfaced that Gonzalez illicitly provided Mendoza with the audio recording of the statement. This breach, sourced from FECI, was handed over to Mendoza by Gonzalez, his former partner.
The aftermath of these actions unfolded swiftly. Both González and Mendoza presently evade Guatemalan judicial authorities, residing in Washington, USA, shielded from facing charges in their homeland. Amid the scandal, the Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation and legal proceedings against Mendoza for obstructing justice, following the leak disclosed by Fernando del Rincón. Bertha Michelle Mendoza departed her homeland in 2022 seeking asylum.
