By Rockson Doe
Monrovia – The Office of Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has rejected drug-trafficking and related allegations against her, describing the charges as baseless and accusing unnamed elements within the government of attempting to manufacture evidence against her using artificial intelligence.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Taylor’s office said the former vice president has never been involved in drug-trafficking activities or criminal networks and warned against interpreting her official engagements and interactions during her tenure as vice president as evidence of criminal conduct.
The office further alleged that it had received information about plans to manipulate or generate audio and visual materials using artificial intelligence in an effort to create evidence that could be used against Taylor.
It warned that any audio, video or other digital material presented as evidence against the former vice president would be subjected to independent forensic examination to determine its authenticity.
Taylor’s office characterized the case as a politically motivated witch-hunt and accused authorities of abusing state power in their handling of the allegations.
The former vice president, it said, intends to vigorously challenge the charges through the courts and will rely on the judicial process to establish the facts.
Her office also challenged the government to present its evidence in court, arguing that the allegations should be determined through verifiable evidence rather than political pressure, public speculation or what it described as fabricated narratives.
The response comes amid Liberia’s intensifying investigation into a major cocaine-trafficking case involving the seizure of large quantities of suspected cocaine and allegations of a broader transnational narcotics network.
Taylor was previously identified in connection with the investigation, prompting political controversy and strong reactions from her supporters and the opposition.
Her office has now placed the authenticity of any digital evidence at the center of its defense, warning that alleged AI-generated material should not be accepted without independent verification.
The statement maintains that Taylor remains prepared to defend herself through the legal system and is demanding that the government substantiate its allegations with credible and independently verifiable evidence.
