El Ciudadano
Original article: Audios atribuidos a consejera de órgano electoral sacuden a Honduras: Fiscalía toma el caso por fraude en las elecciones
In a move that threatens to escalate the crisis of credibility and allegations of fraud in the general elections of Honduras, the country’s Public Ministry (MP) revealed three new leaked audio recordings on Thursday. These recordings, purportedly featuring the voice of National Electoral Council (CNE) advisor Cossette López Aguilar, reportedly detail instructions regarding a supposed scheme to manipulate election records while expressing concerns about leaks.
This revelation comes almost two weeks after the November 30 elections, with citizens still awaiting a final declaration of results. The announcement was made during a press conference led by MP spokesperson Yuri Mora and prosecutors from the Specialized Unit Against Electoral Crimes. The institution confirmed that these recordings are part of an ongoing investigation and that their content will be thoroughly analyzed.
«Criminal News» Mandating Investigation
Spokesperson Yuri Mora explained the legal process followed by the Prosecutor’s Office. «New audio files have arrived at the Public Ministry, and as criminal news, they must be investigated,» the official stated.
The term criminal news refers to information indicating the possible commission of a crime, which legally obligates the prosecutor’s office to initiate an inquiry.
Mora emphasized that the primary interest of the Prosecutor’s Office is to safeguard democracy, especially in a context of heightened electoral sensitivity. Before playing the audio, he warned of potential sound quality issues while underscoring that the content is part of a «priority line of investigation» for the agency.
What Do the Audio Recordings Reveal?
The audio recordings played for the press contain various statements and instructions attributed to advisor López Aguilar. In one of the most revealing segments, a voice refers to a control pattern over electoral records with the phrase: «One yes, one no.» There is also mention of supposedly compromised records and a clear concern about leaks: «How do they do that?» questions the voice.
In another segment, the voice attributed to López Aguilar outlines a strategy following the announcement of results: «Dagoberto said we can indeed investigate and that we will file a complaint with Human Rights for espionage. Once we pass this stage and have the declaration, we will denounce where they are obtaining information and why all of this is leaking out.»
Additionally, it is claimed that after the official declaration of results, a complaint would be filed for espionage with human rights organizations, as reported by the digital media outlet Criterio.
However, the segment that has raised the most alarm involves instructions given to individuals identified as «Matamoros» and «Gabriela» regarding the management of credentials and parallel transmission systems for results.
The voice issues a warning: «Tell Matamoros what the plan is because they are contesting everything. And also tell Gabriela what to answer when asked about the credentials and her system, because Cielo Azul’s system and the CNA’s system are exactly the same. If they figure it out, we’re done for.»
This comparison is particularly significant, as «Cielo Azul» is the monitoring system used by the National Party to verify CNE records, while the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA) implemented an independent count, the results of which have been the subject of intense public debate.
Attorney General Affirms Authenticity of Recordings
Minutes after the press conference, Attorney General Johel Zelaya arrived at the MP headquarters and was approached by reporters. When asked about the authenticity of the recordings, he responded emphatically: «If those audios weren’t real, the attorney general shouldn’t still be in that office.»
Zelaya defended the role of the Prosecutor’s Office during the electoral process, lamenting what he termed a misinterpretation of their work: «They said we were obstructing elections, and look: we fought for that.»
He also reiterated his independence from political pressures, stating, «I will not kneel to any politician,» emphasizing that «public positions belong to the Honduran people, not to party interests.»
Although he avoided delving into specific details of the investigation so as not to compromise the process, he hinted that journalists already have an idea of whom the leaked material might implicate.
The Attorney General insisted on describing the case as “criminal news” to highlight that there are indications of planned or committed offenses.
He also took the opportunity to deliver a broader diagnosis of corruption in Honduras, noting that «thousands of young people emigrate because opportunities have been snatched from them by colluding politicians and businessmen.»
Recurring Pattern of Allegations: Other Recordings Involving the Advisor
This is not the first time the Public Ministry has disclosed audio recordings involving advisor Cossette López. On October 29, Attorney Zelaya had already presented recordings that, according to allegations, showed members of the National Party, including López, parliamentary leader Tomás Zambrano, and an active military officer coordinating actions to sabotage the electoral process.
In those recordings, López is apparently heard conversing with Zambrano and a military official close to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Roosevelt Hernández, coordinating a purported plan to destabilize the election process. One segment suggested that the head of the National Human Rights Commissioner (Conadeh), Blanca Izaguirre, might be aligned with their interests to promote a narrative of alleged fraud.
Additionally, in another part of those recordings, Deputy Zambrano urged seeking support from National Party deputies to replicate the manipulation narrative, intending – according to the MP – to provoke an internal crisis in the CNE that could lead to the elections being repeated.
Advisor’s Silence, Uncertainty, and the Shadow of Fraud
So far, CNE advisor Cossette López Aguilar has not commented on the release of the new audio recordings attributed to her. Her legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
The country remains in a state of deep uncertainty, with the electoral process still awaiting a final declaration. The investigation into these audios by the Specialized Unit Against Electoral Crimes could have not only criminal repercussions for those involved but also raises serious doubts about the integrity of the process and the legitimacy of its outcomes, especially at a time when institutional trust is already severely eroded.
The revelation of these recordings comes after the Permanent Commission of Congress in Honduras denounced the existence of a “current electoral coup” and warned that it would not validate the elections held on November 30, labeling them as “tainted by internal and external pressures.”
The legislative body, in an official statement, detailed a range of irregularities it believes invalidate the elections, including external and internal pressures, technical failures, and administrative reforms that would have facilitated the manipulation of records.
The commission condemned the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump based on posts he shared on his X account 72 hours prior to the elections, in which he threatened and coerced Honduran citizens, altering their free exercise of suffrage.
The occupant of the White House stated he would not cooperate with Honduras if the presidential candidate of the Freedom and Refoundation (LIBRE) party, Rixi Moncada, were elected, thus conditioning his economic support to a victory for the oligarchy and their candidate Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura of the conservative National Party.
He also announced that he would grant a pardon to Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced by U.S. justice to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking offenses.
Moreover, the body reported that the National Congress will not validate a “process tainted by internal pressures from organized crime structures linked to drug trafficking, gangs like MS-13, 18, among others.”
La entrada Audio Recordings Linked to Electoral Advisor Shake Honduras: Prosecutors Investigate Alleged Election Fraud se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
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