The U.S. ambassador in Ecuador has been expelled over comments made in a diplomatic cable released by the online whistleblower WikiLeaks. In a July 2009 message, U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges said the United States should revoke the visa of Ecuador’s national police commander for his alleged ties to extortion, theft and human trafficking. Hodges also suggested President Rafael Correa knew of the police commander’s alleged corruption but appointed him anyway. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner criticized Hodges’ expulsion.

Mark Toner: “The Ecuadorean government has declared Ambassador Heather Hodges persona non grata. Ambassador Hodges is one our most experienced and talented diplomats, and the Department considers her expulsion unjustified, and we deeply regret the Ecuadorean government took it. The Department will examine its options to respond to this Ecuadorean action.”