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The Extradition of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, 1959–63: Practical Precedent for Enforcement of Administrative Honesty?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

Judith Ewell
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Extract

Honesty in high public office has always been difficult to enforce. Arguments of executive privilege often block prosecution of presidents who have illicitly enriched themselves; likewise, the divisiveness which accompanies judicial action against a head of state contributes to the reluctance of politicians to initiate such action. When the public official in question is living in exile, the task of the courts is compounded. Prosecution then may depend upon the existence of an extradition treaty in which the alleged crimes are specified and upon the good will of the country where the politician enjoys asylum.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 1977 , pp. 291 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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References

1 Certified copy of the record of sworn declaration of assets, Mathes Papers, Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; see also Appendices A and B, Plaintiff's Memorandum of the Facts, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

2 Pineda, Leonardo Ruíz was killed by Seguridad Nacional (SN) police force on 21 Oct. 1952; Antonio Pinto Salinas by SN on 11 June 1953; both were members of the outlawed Accioacute;n Democr´tica party and were leading the subversive fight to overthrow Perez's dictatorship.Google Scholar

3 After Pérez left Venezuela in Jan. 1958, a provisional governing junta ruled Venezuela until elections were held in Dec. 1958; Rómulo Betancourt of Acción Democr´tica won the election and took office in 1959.Google Scholar

4 de Venezuela, República, Procuraduría de Ia Nación, Informe al Congreso Nacional 1957–1958 (Caracas, 1959), p. 699.Google Scholar

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10 Moore, John Bassett, A Digest of International Law (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1906), 4:343.Google Scholar

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14 The Miami Herald, 11 Sept. 1959, p. 2.Google Scholar

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20 Ibid., 2:462; 3:388.

21 Some Venezuelan works which treat illicit enrichment are the following: Morillo, Gilberto, El Enriquecimienro Ilícito en Venezuela (Caracas, 1965);Google ScholarMartin, Américo, Los Feces Gordos (Valencia, Venez, 1975)Google ScholarRangel, José Vicente, Quien encubre a los culpables? (Caracas, 1975);Google ScholarQuilarque, Pedro (ed.), Contribución al estudio dcl enriquecimiento ilícito de fun. cionarios y empleados públicos en Venezuela, 1813–1959 (Caracas, 1973).Google Scholar

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26 Ibid.

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38 Ibid., 7: 168; Plaintiff's memorandum on the facts, Mathes Papers.

39 Ibid.

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41 Ibid., 7:174–86 passim.

42 Ibid., 8:9–10.

43 Whiteman, Marjorie (ed.), Digest of International Law (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State, 1968), 6:1000.Google Scholar

44 Ibid., p. 1007; Memorandum in support of defendant's motion to dismiss, Mathes Papers; Pérez Jiménez v. Aristeguieta &s Maguire, 2:443; 9:2644.Google Scholar

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52 Memorandum in support of defendant's motion to dismiss, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

53 Ibid.

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55 Memorandum in support of defendant's motion to dismiss, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

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59 Westwood, Howard to Mathes, William, 29 Mar. 1961, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

60 Pérez Jiménez v. Aristeguieta & Maguire, 10:2794.Google Scholar

61 sInterview with Westwood, Howard, 18 Nov. 1969.Google Scholar

62 See for example Carrillo, Leonardo Altuve, Yo juí embajador de Pérez jiménez (Caracas, 1973) for accounts of attempted bribery of United States oflicials.Google Scholar

63 Certification to the Secretary of State, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

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67 The Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 1962, p. 18;Google ScholarThe New York, 26 July 1963, p. 2.Google Scholar

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70 Ibid., 18 Dec. 1962, p. 1.

71 Ibid., 16 Feb. 1963, p. 8.

72 Ibid., 16 May 1962, p. 14.

73 Ibid., 17 June 1963, p. 23.

74 Memorandum for M. Aristeguieta, Mathes Papers.Google Scholar

75 Ibid.

76 The Miami Herald, 1 July 1963, p. 15.Google Scholar

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81 Ibid., 17 Aug. 1963, pp. 1, 2; Memorandum for M. Aristeguieta, Mathes Papers.

82 Declaración Indagatoria, Archive 59–95, Supreme Court Archives, Caracas, Venezuela.Google Scholar

83 Ibid.

84 Ibid.

85 The New York Times, 2 Aug. 1968, p. 2;Google ScholarxCatal´, José Agustin (ed.), Proceso a on exdictador (Caracas: José Agustín Catl´a, 1969), pp. 397–98.Google Scholar