But one thing that was not concocted is Saldivar's well documented relationship with Lev Dermen - who's in a US jail for a massive fraud scheme.
Tough Saldivar accepted donations - or tranches of 25 thousand US dollars each from him - this was not mentioned din the US designation. That said he, quote, "accepted bribes in exchange for improperly facilitating the acquisition of Belizean immigration documents and misused a U.S.-donated Coast Guard boat for his personal gain."
Today, Saldivar seemed to relish the fact that those infamous tranches - which may have done him in politically - were not mentions by the US:
Reporter
"He got fraudulent nationality. Were you aware, when you were interacting with him, that he was the recipient of fraudulent nationality, and did you in any way make a call or facilitate as you did for his diplomatic status?"
John Saldivar, Rejects US Designation
"No sir, I did not intervene in anything to do with his nationality or his passport. I learnt of that; I believe his name appeared in auditor general's report."
Reporter
"But you travelled with him, you weren't aware that he has a Belizean passport?"
John Saldivar, Rejects US Designation
"I was not aware, and he never brought it up to me."
Reporter
"At no point did he mention?"
John Saldivar, Rejects US Designation
"Never Jules, and there is no way I can go back and clear myself on that and there's no way you can go and say otherwise. But I am telling you it actually caught me by surprise when I saw that he had gotten his Belizean nationality and passport."
