A Colombian court on Monday found former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud, marking an unprecedented moment in the country’s history and igniting a political firestorm at home and abroad. Uribe was found guilty of influencing Monsalve, though he was acquitted of a separate charge of bribery. Several of Uribe’s political allies and protégés are eyeing a return to power, and the verdict could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s conservative movement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ruling a “dangerous precedent,” stating: “Former Colombian President Uribe’s only crime has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland. Uribe, who left office in 2010 with an approval rating above 70%, remains a divisive but towering figure in Colombian politics.