| “ | Unfortunately for the President, I don't work for him. I work for the people of Colombia.
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Gustavo de Greiff Restrepo was the 1st Attorney-General of Colombia, from 1992 till 1994.
He believed that drug lord Pablo Escobar had the right to a free and fair trial like every Colombian citizen and opposed President César Gaviria's intention to hunt down and kill Escobar. Disregarding the President's orders to not negotiate with the members of the Medellín cartel, de Greiff independently contacted Escobar's lawyer Fernando Duque to inform him that he was opened to making a peaceful surrender deal with Escobar. Additionally, he also supported the legalization of drugs.
He also opened an investigation based on the allegations that President Gaviria and Vice Minister of Justice Eduardo Sandoval might have helped Pablo Escobar escape during the La Catedral siege. Later, he criticized Gaviria for allowing the Los Pepes death squad to operate in the country, and had his men provide security to Escobar's immediate family members. Escobar initially did not seriously consider the Attorney General's offer but changed his mind after the collapse of his organization. However, the evidence against Escobar was too strong at that point, that de Greiff refused negotiations.
He was succeeded by Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento in 1994.