Colombia’s foreign minister, Maria Consuelo Araujo, has resigned just days after her brother was arrested for alleged ties to illegal right-wing paramilitary groups involve in cocaine trafficking. Last week, Colombia’s Supreme Court ordered her brother, Senator Alvaro Araujo, and five other lawmakers to be arrested for ties to paramilitary groups. All of the arrested lawmakers are supporters of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Maria Consuelo Araujo announced her resignation as foreign minister on Monday.

Maria Consuelo Araujo: “I’m leaving because I am not tied to any charge. I see clearly that the judicial process must be free of any interference. The certainty of my father’s and my brother’s innocence obligates me to leave in order to have the freedom to be at their side to support them as a daughter and a sister. I appreciate your support, Mr. President.”

Colombian President Uribe has named Fernando Araujo Perdomo as the country’s new foreign minister. Araujo Perdomo spent almost all of the past six years held hostage by FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. He escaped in December.