Legal Challenge: Lawyers Question Mexican President’s Statements on ‘Chapo’ Guzman’s Son’s Extradition

Legal Challenge: Lawyers Question Mexican President’s Statements on ‘Chapo’ Guzman’s Son’s Extradition

Lawyers representing Ovidio Guzmán López, also known as ‘El Raton,’ have refuted President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s claim that there were no safeguards in place during the extradition process of ‘Chapo’ Guzmán’s son to the United States. They have pointed out that their client was informed about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) decision on September 14 and was subsequently transferred to the United States the following day. As a result, they argue that the 30-day period for challenging the Mexican government’s decision was not afforded to their client.

In a statement released by Chapo Guzmán’s son, Ovidio Guzmán López’s legal team, including attorneys Alberto Díaz Mendieta and Juan Humberto Ledezma, responded to President López Obrador’s comments during his September 19 morning conference at the National Palace. The lawyers challenged the President’s assertion regarding the extradition process, emphasizing that typically, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives an extradition request and, if authorized, forwards it to the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic.

The individual facing extradition is then notified, granting them the opportunity to seek legal protection or approach a judge. In this case, Ovidio’s defense argued that their client was not given the 30-day window to challenge the decision, contradicting President López Obrador’s statement.

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The President’s Viewpoint

During a press conference on September 19th, President Lopez Obrador stated that once an extradition is authorized by the SRE, the individual in question is notified and given the opportunity to appeal. In this case, he believed no appeal was made, leading to the extradition proceeding. However, this version of events has been contradicted by Guzmán’s lawyers.

Despite the objections raised by Guzmán’s legal team, President Obrador has maintained that the extradition was carried out to avoid negative talk about Mexico and to avoid giving any reason for complaints. He further accused the US of using drug trafficking and migration issues for political gain.

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U.S. Perspective on Extradition

On the other hand, Mike Vigil, a former agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has refuted the idea that Guzmán’s extradition was a concession from Mexico to the Joe Biden administration. This statement suggests a difference in perception between the two countries regarding the implications of the extradition.

Currently detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, Illinois, Guzman has had his first court hearing in the Northern District of Illinois. He pleaded not guilty to the five criminal charges he faces, which include drug trafficking and money laundering.

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