The Intercept Briefing

She Exposed Government Abuse. Now She's Locked up in an El Salvador Prison.

May 23, 2025
Noah Bullock, executive director of Cristosal, sheds light on the troubling imprisonment of Ruth Eleonora López, a fierce anti-corruption attorney in El Salvador. Bullock discusses López’s significant role in exposing government abuses and the harsh conditions within the country’s prison system, which has resulted in numerous deaths. Nick Turse highlights the U.S. government's controversial outsourcing of immigration detention to nations with poor human rights records, revealing the alarming lack of transparency in these arrangements.
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ANECDOTE

Ruth Lopez's Anti-Corruption Work

  • Ruth Eleonora Lopez is an anti-corruption lawyer and academic who leads Cristosal's anti-corruption unit in El Salvador.
  • She has exposed over 15 well-investigated corruption cases against President Bukele's regime and is a major defender of democracy in the country.
ANECDOTE

Ruth Lopez's Arrest Experience

  • Ruth was arrested late at night by police claiming a car accident inquiry but was actually detained on vague corruption charges.
  • She was taken without being allowed to change clothes, her location was withheld for over a day, restricting family and lawyer access.
INSIGHT

Ruth’s Detention Sparks Resistance

  • The arrest of Ruth Lopez triggered widespread societal support, revealing a growing resistance against government repression.
  • El Salvador's population shows high approval but fearful silence about the president, indicating suppressed dissent and potential change.
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