CNN and ex anchor come into conflict by The Isaías case

CNN in Spanish and the now-defunct CNN Latino TV stations  have been material for the nation wide  Saturday broadcasts  of the government and official media of Ecuador, since Alberto Padilla, former member of that TV chain, reported a connection with the brothers Roberto and William Isaias, former Ecuadorian bankers now residing in Miami (with pending court cases in Ecuador). Padilla’s claims were described as “false and irresponsible” by the Director of public relations for CNN, Mariana Piñango, from Atlanta.

On her  blog and in a statement addressed to official media such as newspaper El Telegrafo, Padilla says that CNN scheduled interviews with opponents of Rafael Correa, at their discretion, by links with the former bankers, the Isaias brothers.

“The FBI investigation to a Senator (Robert Menéndez) for his links with the Isaias, confirmed that they have no legal status in the United States and that they need to buy a politician to achieve it. “I understand then why they sought to legitimize themselves through a television station, such as CNN Latino, which they controlled, which explains the public relations campaign that they financed against the Government of Ecuador”, said Padilla in one of her responses to Diario El Telegrafo on February 9.

The Director of public affairs explains: “Luis Isaias (Roberto Isaias’ son) was the owner of a non-dominant shareholding of CNN Latino in Miami, as well as the entity that licensed the programming block of CNN Latino to affiliated stations in New York, Tampa and Orlando. CNN never had business with William or Roberto Isaias, and the relationship with Luis will cease with the closure of the Latin CNN programming at the end of the month.

About Isabel Bucaram, employee of CNN in Spanish, named  in the nation wide Saturday broadcasts as close to the Isaias and family of Abdalá Bucaram, Padilla indicates: “I do not know her, but she was who led the Isaias to the negotiating table with CNN… “