Mexican Senator Accused by U.S. Denies Links to Drug Trafficking
Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
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Under investigation
- Mexican Senator Enrique Inzunza appeared in the Senate and denied allegations from a U.S. Justice Department office linking him to drug trafficking.
- He said Mexico's attorney general's office had opened its own investigation and confirmed that authorities had frozen some of his accounts.
- Inzunza left Morena's parliamentary group but retained his seat and said he would accept the party's decision about his membership.
Senator Enrique Inzunza returned to Mexico's Senate on Monday and rejected allegations from the United States linking him to drug trafficking, declaring that he had “absolutely nothing to do” with the accusations and no fear of prison.
Inzunza said he had faced more than four months of what he called a media attack built on “slander” and “tirades.” He described the allegation made by an office of the U.S. Department of Justice as an “instrument of lawfare.” He said no evidence had been presented against him so far.
I have absolutely nothing to do with it, and I have no fear.
Mexico's attorney general's office has opened its own investigation, Inzunza said. Although his constitutional immunity means he is not required to attend summonses, he said he had appeared voluntarily and would do so again if authorities requested it. He also confirmed that some of his accounts remained frozen as part of the investigation.
The senator rejected the label “narco-legislator” and said he had never been involved in anything related to drug trafficking. He also denied personally knowing Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán or Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. Asked whether he would be willing to become a U.S. witness, he answered no.
I am my own lawyer.
Inzunza has left Morena's parliamentary group but kept his Senate seat. He said his continued membership in the party would depend on Morena, which holds the congressional majority, and that he would respect its decision. He said the dispute would not change his principles or convictions.
He also defended Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, calling him honorable and citing his work as a teacher and writer. Inzunza said he visited Rocha at the Sinaloa Government Palace on Aug. 21 after the governor briefly resumed his duties. He said Rocha sought his advice but declined to disclose the conversation. Inzunza attributed calls for him to step aside to political motives and said he would defend himself from his Senate post.
I have never been a narco anything.
About this summary
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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