A high-profile firearm prosecution has sparked fresh debate over political influence in law enforcement, after Benjamin Garcia — a former campaign worker for National Security Minister Michel Chebat — pleaded guilty to illegal weapons charges.
The case quickly expanded beyond a simple firearms violation, with critics raising questions about whether Garcia’s close political ties to Chebat, who oversaw the country’s 2025 general election campaign, granted him preferential treatment from law enforcement authorities. Garcia, who also has a background as a media personality, worked on Chebat’s successful 2025 electoral bid before his arrest on weapons charges earlier this month.
In a direct response to mounting allegations of political interference, Chebat has emphatically rejected claims that he intervened in the legal process to benefit Garcia. Speaking in an interview with local reporters, the minister acknowledged Garcia’s role in his 2025 campaign but pushed back on assumptions that the former aide received any unusual leniency.
“One of the blessings and curses of holding this office is that a minister takes calls from the public,” Chebat said in the interview, addressing the speculation directly. “People naturally assume that anyone with political connections will reach out to the minister to get favorable treatment.” When pressed on what input he had into Garcia’s arrest and processing, Chebat clarified that he was briefed on the case early on the morning of the arrest, and his only instruction was that Garcia should follow the standard legal process like any other defendant.
Chebat also pushed back on narratives that Garcia was exclusively connected to his political circle, noting that the former campaign worker has collaborated with multiple political figures as part of his professional work.
Top officials at the National Security Ministry have followed standard protocol throughout the case, according to Francis Usher, CEO of the National Security Ministry. Usher confirmed that in the wake of Garcia’s guilty plea, administration officials have formally revoked his firearms license, a standard disciplinary action for individuals convicted of weapons-related offenses.
This report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of a local evening newscast, with all statements from public officials preserved and formatted for online readability.