'El Chapo' trial: Mexico presidents reject 'scapegoat' claims
14 November 2018
Mexico's president and his predecessor have rejected allegations of bribe-taking made in the New York trial of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Mr Guzman's lawyer told the trial that his client was a "scapegoat". He said the real leader of the Sinaloa Cartel was Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada who was living openly in Mexico and bribing the "entire" government, including President Enrique Pena Nieto. Both Mr Pena Nieto and his predecessor Felipe Calderon denied the claims. Guzman, 61, faces 17 charges and could be jailed for life if found guilty. He was arrested in January 2016 after escaping from prison through a tunnel five months earlier. Prosecutors say the Sinaloa cartel is the biggest supplier of drugs to the US. Key associates, including one of his former lieutenants, are expected to testify against Guzman. The trial, which opened on Tuesday amid high security, is expected to last about four months. Jeffrey Lichtman said about his client: "He's blamed for being the leader while the real leaders are living freely and openly in Mexico. "In truth he controlled nothing. Mayo Zambada did." The lawyer also said that Zambada had been left alone because he bribed everybody "including the very top, the current president of Mexico and the former". President Pena Nieto and Mr Calderon immediately rejected the accusation, with the latter calling it "absolutely false and reckless".
Jeffrey Lichtman said about his client: "He's blamed for being the leader while the real leaders are living freely and openly in Mexico. "In truth he controlled nothing. Mayo Zambada did." The lawyer also said that Zambada had been left alone because he bribed everybody "including the very top, the current president of Mexico and the former". President Pena Nieto and Mr Calderon immediately rejected the accusation, with the latter calling it "absolutely false and reckless".
5596_0
What did the defence lawyer say?