The charges against the beauty contest organizers are the latest attempt by President Daniel Ortega to consolidate power in Nicaragua. Photo: POOL/REUTERSMEXICO CITY—Nicaragua’s government charged the owner of the local Miss Universe franchise with treason, organized crime and inciting hatred as part of a plot to overthrow President Daniel Ortega ’s regime two weeks after the country’s first victory in the pageant. Nicaraguan police accused the contest’s local organizer, Karen Celebertti, a past beauty queen and owner of a modeling agency, her husband and son of rigging contests so that antigovernment winners would emerge at the pageants.

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Persons: Daniel Ortega, Daniel Ortega ’, Karen Celebertti Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Miss Universe Locations: Nicaragua, MEXICO