Leaked comments of US Ambassador Heather Hodges regarding alleged police corruption in Ecuador provoked the anger of the Ecuadorian government, which demanded the envoy to leave the country immediately.
“Ecuador’s government has decided to consider this woman as a persona non grata… we have asked her to leave the country in the shortest time possible,” said Ecuadorian Chancellor Ricardo Patiño, who clarified the decision is meant to have no impact in the country’s relations with the United States.
Patiño told reporters he never received a satisfactory explanation from the ambassador regarding a series of cables released by Wikileaks and signed by her office.
Heather M. Hodges has made a career as a United States foreign service officer and ambassador. Prior to serving as ambassador to Ecuador, a post she has occupied since 2008, she was the ambassador to Moldova.
