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Will Chapo Guzmán defy precedent, normal behavior for a criminal defendant—and his own lawyers—by testifying at his trial? @emilyepalmer walks you through it.
Chapo’s testimony would be the last wild twist in this tornado of a case....
nytimes.com/2019/01/20/nyr…
Chapo’s testimony would be the last wild twist in this tornado of a case....
nytimes.com/2019/01/20/nyr…
I put up some thoughts about Chapo's possible testimony last week. Re-posting here now:
1. He has nothing to lose. After it emerged that the govt had secretly intercepted his phone calls and texts Chapo’s chances of acquittal went from nil to lol. Why not talk at this point?
1. He has nothing to lose. After it emerged that the govt had secretly intercepted his phone calls and texts Chapo’s chances of acquittal went from nil to lol. Why not talk at this point?
2. He likes publicity. His lawyer actually admitted precisely that in his opening argument. What other narco lord has ever given an interview to Rolling Stone?
3. He’s never going to get a bigger public platform than the one he has now. You think Sean Penn got Chapo a big audience? If he testifies, everyone from Proceso to the Burundi Gazette will be there.
4. He has spent the past ten weeks watching almost everyone he has ever worked with show up in court and tell his story for him.
At what point does he take control of his own story?
At what point does he take control of his own story?
5. He actually has something to say, which is what he said to Rolling Stone.
Namely: I am a drug dealer because Americans do drugs.
That may be self-serving, but there's a lot of truth to it too.
Namely: I am a drug dealer because Americans do drugs.
That may be self-serving, but there's a lot of truth to it too.
I'm skeptical (but hopeful) that Chapo will take the stand.
As far as I can tell, it would be unprecedented for a criminal of his stature. I don't think any other similarly iconic outlaw--from John Gotti to Al Capone--has ever testified in their own defense.
As far as I can tell, it would be unprecedented for a criminal of his stature. I don't think any other similarly iconic outlaw--from John Gotti to Al Capone--has ever testified in their own defense.
If--and it's a big if--it happens it would a) launch Chapo into an even higher realm of criminal celebrity and b) certify his trial as the biggest and wildest courtroom drama since, well, pretty much ever...
P.S.
If he doesn't speak now, he'll never again have the opportunity. Chapo will almost certainly be convicted and sent to the ADX maximum security prison in Florence, Colo. He won't be allowed visitors there or any contact with the outside world--even by writing.
So this is it.
If he doesn't speak now, he'll never again have the opportunity. Chapo will almost certainly be convicted and sent to the ADX maximum security prison in Florence, Colo. He won't be allowed visitors there or any contact with the outside world--even by writing.
So this is it.
