El Chapo’s drug cartel paid US$6 million in bribes to Mexico president Pena Nieto, defence lawyers claim
- Lawyers say defendant is scapegoat in conspiracy orchestrated by business partner, Mexican presidents and corrupt US drug agents
A key witness at the trial of accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman will testify that he paid millions of dollars in bribes to the country’s current president, lawyers said in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Jesus Reynaldo Garcia Zambada is expected to say he paid the US$6 million to Enrique Pena Nieto at the behest of his brother, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the alleged current leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, court transcripts made public on Friday show.
Defence lawyers argue Guzman is a scapegoat in a vast conspiracy orchestrated by his business partner El Mayo – who they say is the true leader of the cartel. Current and former presidents of Mexico and corrupt US drug agents helped El Mayo in the scheme, Guzman’s lawyers claim.
During a private conference on Wednesday that included the prosecution, defence lawyers and Judge Brian Cogan, Guzman’s lawyer William Purpura portrayed his client as a victim. He said El Mayo ran amok, while his partner, El Chapo, was unjustly forced into hiding.
“Mr Guzman is on the run, with a target on his back, in the mountains. And that is who the Mexican government is targeting [at] that point,” Purpura said.