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Guatemalan Vice President Resigns


FILE - Guatemala's Vice President Roxana Baldetti speaks during a press conference at the Presidential House in Guatemala City, April 19, 2015.
FILE - Guatemala's Vice President Roxana Baldetti speaks during a press conference at the Presidential House in Guatemala City, April 19, 2015.

Guatemala's vice president has resigned.

Roxana Baldetti stepped down Friday amid a corruption scandal that implicated her private secretary, opening up Baldetti to investigation, as well. She has maintained her innocence.

President Otto Perez Molina described Baldetti's decision to resign as "brave" and thanked her for her service.

Baldetti's secretary, Juan Carlos Monzon, is accused of being a leader in a customs bribery ring. His current whereabouts are unknown.

After the announcement of the vice president's resignation, U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said the U.S. supports President Perez Molina and his administration's "efforts to address charges of official corruption." Rathke said, "we urge all Guatemalans to support the governmental institutions that investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption."

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