Envoy denies US links to gabby Dominican Republic drug kingpin

Santo Domingo.- US ambassador James Brewster on Wednesday denied any links between his government and all actions and the persistent accusations by former drug kingpin Quirino Paulino.

The US envoy’s statement comes after weeks of speculation that Washington was behind Paulino’s stunning accusations that he funded “with dirty money” former president Leonel Fernandez’s campaign in 2002, which the former chief executive has yet to flatly deny.

Brewster said once Paulino was released from a US prison after serving a drug trafficking conviction he ceased to have interaction with the US government. "I have nothing to say about the statements of Quirino, but I want to clarify of whom we speak. I think we should take his (Paulino’s) statements with a grain of salt."

The diplomat cautioned that before accepting information it’s advisable to analyze the source and acknowledge its value. "Once Quirino was freed from prison, everything he does from there on he does so on his own volition."

Interviewed by the Corripio Communications Group, Brewster said the Dominican Republic should continue to observe people who’ve been convicted of drug trafficking or other crimes, here as well as in his country.

The diplomat was accompanied by US Embassy public affairs counselor James Russo; press attaché Jeremiah Knight; press and Information specialist Keyla Diaz; protocol official Grissette Vásquez and interpreter Jocelyn Caminero.