Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the notorious Mexican drug lord, has filed a motion for a new trial based on several key arguments.
- Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: El Chapo claims his previous legal team provided inadequate representation. Specifically, he argues that they failed to explore a plea bargain and did not object to government motions regarding classified information
- Juror Misconduct: A significant part of his motion centers on allegations of juror misconduct. An anonymous juror told Vice News that some jurors had accessed media coverage during the trial, which included prejudicial information about Guzmán. This alleged misconduct, according to El Chapo’s defense, compromised the fairness of the trial.
- Extradition Issues: Guzmán also challenges the legality of his extradition from Mexico, arguing that the agreement stipulated he should be tried in Texas or California, not Brooklyn .
- Pretrial Detention Conditions: He contends that the harsh conditions of his pretrial detention at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, which included perpetual solitary confinement and constant lighting, impaired his ability to participate in his defense.
Despite these arguments, U.S. prosecutors maintain that the juror misconduct claims are based on hearsay and are not credible enough to warrant a new trial. The government also defended the necessity of Guzmán's strict detention conditions given his history of escapes from high-security prisons in Mexico.
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the El Chapo Files and the story of one of the most notorious crime bosses in history.
(commercial at 7:01)
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
source:
El Chapo defense reply motion for new trial - DocumentCloud