Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has requested a new trial in the United States where he is serving a life sentence. Guzmán Loera, who is in a maximum-security prison in the United States, sent a motion to Judge Brian Cogan arguing that his defense was deficient and that there were violations in his extradition to the United States that were not taken into account, which he considers illegal.
In the letter, dated September 25, the Mexican drug trafficker insists that he should have been extradited and tried in a court in Texas or California, where according to the specialty rule of the treaty would have corresponded from the order against him. Although the letter was sent in September, the procedure was not completed until October 15 and was presented to the Court of Appeals.
The request for a new trial coincides with the legal proceedings of his sons in the United States, Ovidio Guzmán and Joaquín Guzmán López, who are negotiating to plead guilty for a minimal sentence. Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán was sentenced to life in prison in July 2019 for 26 violations of the drug laws and a conspiracy to commit murder in New York.
During his first trial, "El Chapo"'s lawyers argued that his conviction should be overturned because members of the jury expressed bias against Guzmán after reading news articles. They also alleged that the kingpin's solitary confinement in prison affected the preparation of his defense. Lawyer Marc Fernich unsuccessfully attempted to request a new trial before a panel of three judges from the court of appeals.
Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, known for his two prison escapes in Mexico, is seeking a review of his case arguing deficiencies in his legal process in the United States.
