Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Jeffrey Lichtman, a New York attorney known for representing notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and his family. The lawsuit arises from statements Lichtman made outside a federal courthouse in Chicago, where he claimed that clients from the Sinaloa Cartel could provide evidence of political corruption in Mexico, implicating Sheinbaum and her Morena party.
Lichtman spoke to reporters following a court hearing for Ovidio Guzmán López, Guzmán’s son, who recently pleaded guilty to charges including international drug trafficking and murder. During his remarks, Lichtman criticized the Mexican President for suggesting that U.S. negotiations with Guzmán López amounted to negotiations with terrorists. He characterized the notion as absurd, emphasizing his lack of trust in the U.S. government but questioning any collaboration with Mexican officials.
In response to the lawsuit, Lichtman has dismissed Sheinbaum’s actions as political theater, contending that if she were serious, she would pursue legal action in the United States rather than Mexico, where he argues the suit has little legal grounding. “This appears to be more about political grandstanding than addressing the pressing issues facing her country,” Lichtman stated.
Experts have expressed skepticism regarding the lawsuit’s potential success in court, viewing it as more of a symbolic gesture aimed at asserting Sheinbaum’s authority amid growing concerns over cartels’ collaborations with U.S. authorities. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University, described the situation as a spectacle and suggested that it reinforces untrue narratives about Mexico being a “narcostate.”
Researcher Jesús Pérez Caballero from El Colegio de la Frontera Norte noted that the lawsuit likely serves to communicate a message to the Mexican populace, asserting Sheinbaum’s leadership by dismissing Lichtman’s claims rather than focusing on the ongoing challenges posed by drug cartels.
In her official statement, Sheinbaum underscored the need for moral and political authority to govern effectively in Mexico, emphasizing her history of service. The lawsuit was filed by the Legal Counsel of the Federal Executive, an agency seeking to bolster government authority in a climate of growing cartel violence. The Mexican government is actively waging a battle against these criminal organizations, leading to intense confrontations during attempts to arrest cartel leaders.
Despite the complexities surrounding the case, Sheinbaum’s actions reflect ongoing tensions as the Mexican government navigates relationships with both domestic and foreign entities in an effort to clamp down on crime.
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