Jake Johnston
@jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Researching, writing. Haiti and US foreign policy. Author of AID STATE. Work at CEPR. https://t.co/N2PgN9A05W
More allegations from the lawyers concerning US intelligence agencies' support for regime change in Bolivia, conducted through CTU — the Florida firm run by Ortiz and his partner Antonio Intriago.
May 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
More allegations from the lawyers concerning US intelligence agencies' support for regime change in Bolivia, conducted through CTU — the Florida firm run by Ortiz and his partner Antonio Intriago.
The lawyers claim to have found an audio file buried in discovery "that bridges the joint work between Ortiz and the American agencies in Bolivia in 2020 with the 2021 work in Haiti."
The contents of that audio file are redacted.
The contents of that audio file are redacted.
May 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The lawyers claim to have found an audio file buried in discovery "that bridges the joint work between Ortiz and the American agencies in Bolivia in 2020 with the 2021 work in Haiti."
The contents of that audio file are redacted.
The contents of that audio file are redacted.
The lawyers also allege the messages show US intel officials coordinating with Ortiz on a "regime change" operation in Bolivia in 2020.
May 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The lawyers also allege the messages show US intel officials coordinating with Ortiz on a "regime change" operation in Bolivia in 2020.
NEW: In court filing, lawyers for one of the defendants in the Haiti assassination case cite text messages between Arcangel Ortiz and his FBI handler from 2020 up until one week before the assassination.
May 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
NEW: In court filing, lawyers for one of the defendants in the Haiti assassination case cite text messages between Arcangel Ortiz and his FBI handler from 2020 up until one week before the assassination.
What could possibly go wrong?
"The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force."
"The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force."
May 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
"The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force."
"The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force."
The armed groups in Haiti are responsible for heinous atrocities, including widespread sexual violence, as the UN report also makes clear.
May 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The armed groups in Haiti are responsible for heinous atrocities, including widespread sexual violence, as the UN report also makes clear.
The UN also reported at least 50 cases of security forces' summarily executing unarmed individuals suspected of being in or collaborating with gangs.
May 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The UN also reported at least 50 cases of security forces' summarily executing unarmed individuals suspected of being in or collaborating with gangs.
Police operations in Cite Soleil "were particularly concerning due to the large number of casualties among the population," the UN reports.
76 civilians killed and 43 injured.
"The victims were hit by stray bullets while they were in their residence or while walking."
76 civilians killed and 43 injured.
"The victims were hit by stray bullets while they were in their residence or while walking."
May 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Police operations in Cite Soleil "were particularly concerning due to the large number of casualties among the population," the UN reports.
76 civilians killed and 43 injured.
"The victims were hit by stray bullets while they were in their residence or while walking."
76 civilians killed and 43 injured.
"The victims were hit by stray bullets while they were in their residence or while walking."
Gran Grif also designated.
May 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Gran Grif also designated.
It's official, the US has designated Viv Ansanm in Haiti as a "Transnational Terrorist Group."
May 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
It's official, the US has designated Viv Ansanm in Haiti as a "Transnational Terrorist Group."
This could end virtually all trade with Haiti, if actually enforced. Very little comes or goes out of Port-au-Prince without some payments being made. Humanitarian access programs would also likely cease. Can't enter a community to disperse aid without negotiations.
April 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This could end virtually all trade with Haiti, if actually enforced. Very little comes or goes out of Port-au-Prince without some payments being made. Humanitarian access programs would also likely cease. Can't enter a community to disperse aid without negotiations.
A Haitian government official, asked by Washington Post about civilian casualties as a result of weaponized drone operations, had this to say:
“To me, it’s just a detail. As long as you’re in a zone controlled by gangs and there are attacks, collateral damage is going to happen.”
“To me, it’s just a detail. As long as you’re in a zone controlled by gangs and there are attacks, collateral damage is going to happen.”
April 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A Haitian government official, asked by Washington Post about civilian casualties as a result of weaponized drone operations, had this to say:
“To me, it’s just a detail. As long as you’re in a zone controlled by gangs and there are attacks, collateral damage is going to happen.”
“To me, it’s just a detail. As long as you’re in a zone controlled by gangs and there are attacks, collateral damage is going to happen.”
The report details three seizures of cocaine hidden in bananas from Noboa Trading, one just last year. A defendant, now free, was represented by an advisor to Noboa, who currently serves as minister of health.
March 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The report details three seizures of cocaine hidden in bananas from Noboa Trading, one just last year. A defendant, now free, was represented by an advisor to Noboa, who currently serves as minister of health.
Explosive new report from @revistaraya.bsky.social, based on internal Ecuadorian police documents, showing the connections between the president's banana company and drug trafficking.
March 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Explosive new report from @revistaraya.bsky.social, based on internal Ecuadorian police documents, showing the connections between the president's banana company and drug trafficking.
Combined, he's bringing in more than $200k a month.
But why does the DR intel agency even need a lobbyist?
But why does the DR intel agency even need a lobbyist?
March 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Combined, he's bringing in more than $200k a month.
But why does the DR intel agency even need a lobbyist?
But why does the DR intel agency even need a lobbyist?
Carlos Trujillo, "a top advisor" to Trump on Latin America who also served during the first admin, has signed four new lobbying contracts in the last month: Haiti, Guyana, Georgia, and, perhaps even stranger, the intelligence agency of the Dominican Republic.
March 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Carlos Trujillo, "a top advisor" to Trump on Latin America who also served during the first admin, has signed four new lobbying contracts in the last month: Haiti, Guyana, Georgia, and, perhaps even stranger, the intelligence agency of the Dominican Republic.
Noboa had previously denied any involvement with the Panamanian based Heckfield International, but here is another document listing his name as the "real owner."
March 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Noboa had previously denied any involvement with the Panamanian based Heckfield International, but here is another document listing his name as the "real owner."
And another document, showing Noboa's connection to Festil Investments, which happened to have an account at Banisi, an offshore bank linked to former president Guillermo Lasso.
March 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And another document, showing Noboa's connection to Festil Investments, which happened to have an account at Banisi, an offshore bank linked to former president Guillermo Lasso.
Here's one document, showing Daniel Noboa listed as the "real owner" of Lanfranco Holdings, which as Folha's
Claudia Jardim reported, is "one of the largest entities in the Noboa family conglomerate."
Claudia Jardim reported, is "one of the largest entities in the Noboa family conglomerate."
March 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Here's one document, showing Daniel Noboa listed as the "real owner" of Lanfranco Holdings, which as Folha's
Claudia Jardim reported, is "one of the largest entities in the Noboa family conglomerate."
Claudia Jardim reported, is "one of the largest entities in the Noboa family conglomerate."
In 2023, before Daniel Noboa became president of Ecuador,
@folha.com reported on leaked docs showing he owned shell companies in tax havens.
It would make him ineligible to hold public office.
1.5 years later, and with elections next month, he has yet to address the allegations.
@folha.com reported on leaked docs showing he owned shell companies in tax havens.
It would make him ineligible to hold public office.
1.5 years later, and with elections next month, he has yet to address the allegations.
March 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
In 2023, before Daniel Noboa became president of Ecuador,
@folha.com reported on leaked docs showing he owned shell companies in tax havens.
It would make him ineligible to hold public office.
1.5 years later, and with elections next month, he has yet to address the allegations.
@folha.com reported on leaked docs showing he owned shell companies in tax havens.
It would make him ineligible to hold public office.
1.5 years later, and with elections next month, he has yet to address the allegations.
USAID's new obligations for Haiti related work, from January 2024 through March 2025.
So far in 2025, USAID has obligated a total of about $200k. No month in 2024 saw less than $8.5m obligated.
So far in 2025, USAID has obligated a total of about $200k. No month in 2024 saw less than $8.5m obligated.
March 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
USAID's new obligations for Haiti related work, from January 2024 through March 2025.
So far in 2025, USAID has obligated a total of about $200k. No month in 2024 saw less than $8.5m obligated.
So far in 2025, USAID has obligated a total of about $200k. No month in 2024 saw less than $8.5m obligated.
"The fastest, quickest way to dismantle the gangs in Haiti would be to stop the flow of weapons, especially ammunition," UN human rights expert Bill O'Neill said.
Instead, the US and others have spent more than half a billion importing a security force while arms keep flowing.
Instead, the US and others have spent more than half a billion importing a security force while arms keep flowing.
March 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
"The fastest, quickest way to dismantle the gangs in Haiti would be to stop the flow of weapons, especially ammunition," UN human rights expert Bill O'Neill said.
Instead, the US and others have spent more than half a billion importing a security force while arms keep flowing.
Instead, the US and others have spent more than half a billion importing a security force while arms keep flowing.
It's one month before Ecuador's elections and the government has just hired a DC lobbyist on a three month contract for $165,000.
Agenda item #1 for the lobbyist: facilitate an official state visit between Noboa and Trump.
Agenda item #1 for the lobbyist: facilitate an official state visit between Noboa and Trump.
March 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It's one month before Ecuador's elections and the government has just hired a DC lobbyist on a three month contract for $165,000.
Agenda item #1 for the lobbyist: facilitate an official state visit between Noboa and Trump.
Agenda item #1 for the lobbyist: facilitate an official state visit between Noboa and Trump.
Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, says that the recent violence in the Catatumbo region is directly connected to the violence in Haiti.
In Haiti, traffickers have "more power than the government," former president Preval once told me.
In Haiti, traffickers have "more power than the government," former president Preval once told me.
March 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, says that the recent violence in the Catatumbo region is directly connected to the violence in Haiti.
In Haiti, traffickers have "more power than the government," former president Preval once told me.
In Haiti, traffickers have "more power than the government," former president Preval once told me.
One could write a book about the framing of this.
February 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
One could write a book about the framing of this.