[5] The Attorney General's Office asked the National Electoral Council to suspend Merlano's appointment as senator.
[6][7] On 4 September, the Council of State declared her loss of investiture as senator, finding that she had spent 1.73 billion pesos (US$527,000) during the campaign, which far exceeded the limit of 884 million.
[11] She had an appointment with the dentist at La Sabana Medical Center, located north of Bogotá, in the morning, where she was transferred, accompanied by a guardian.
[11] According to a video issued by the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute, Merlano descended from the third floor of the center by means of a rope tied to a table, riding away on a motorcycle driven by a man wearing badges for the home services company Rappi.
[13] On 27 January 2020, Merlano was captured in Maracaibo by Special Action Forces of the Venezuelan National Police, along with her romantic partner Yeico Manuel Vargas Silvera.