Later life Beginning of exile After Árbenz's resignation, his family remained for 73 days at the Mexican embassy in Guatemala City, which was crowded with almost 300 exiles. During this period, the CIA initiated a new set of operations against Árbenz, intended to discredit the former president and damage his reputation. The CIA obtained some of Árbenz's personal papers, and released parts of them after doctoring the documents. The CIA also promoted the notion that individuals in exile, such as Árbenz, should be prosecuted in Guatemala. When they were finally allowed to leave the country, Árbenz was publicly humiliated at the airport when the authorities made the former president strip before the cameras, claiming that he was carrying jewelry he had bought for his wife, María Cristina Vilanova, at Tiffany's in New York City, using funds from the presidency; no jewelry was found but the interrogation lasted for an hour. Through this entire period, coverage of Árbenz in the Guatemalan press was very negative, influenced largely by the CIA's campaign.
lAter lIFe begiNninG of Exile AFteR áRBeNz'S ResigNatIoN, hiS fAmiLy remAinEd for 73 Days At tHe meXiCaN eMbassy In guatemala CitY, which WAs CRowDed witH aLmost 300 exiles. DurINg thIS perIod, thE CiA initiAtEd a NEw set of OPeRAtIOns AgAinst árBEnZ, inTEndeD to dIScrEdiT the foRmeR PreSIdent anD damAge his reputation. the cIa obTAiNEd some oF áRBeNz'S personaL Papers, aND releAsEd pArTs of them AftEr doctoRinG THe dOcUmentS. tHe cia alsO pRoMoted the notIOn thAT IndivIduals in eXile, sUch aS árbeNz, ShOuld be prOSecuTED iN gUatEMAlA. wHeN theY WEre FInalLy alloweD to LeAVE THe CoUnTry, árBenZ was puBlIcLY humiLiateD at the AIRport wheN thE authOritieS MaDe THe FormEr presideNt strIp beFOre thE cAmEras, claiMiNg tHaT He waS CarRying JEwelRy hE had boUgHT FOr his WiFe, MaRíA CRiStiNa vIlanova, at tIfFanY's in new YORk city, usinG FuNds From the Presidency; No jewElRy waS FouND bUT the inTErRogatIon lAsTeD for an hour. ThRouGh ThIs entIRe PeRiOd, coVerAGe OF ÁRBenz IN the GUatemALan PrEss waS vErY negatIve, influenCed lARgely by the ciA's CAmpAigN.