Sheinbaum Sees Contradiction in Ex-Ambassador Salazar's Statements

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has raised doubts about the account provided by former U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar regarding the transfer of drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to the United States. Sheinbaum pointed to a contradiction between Salazar's denials and evidence, such as an FBI presentation of the aircraft used in the operation, which appeared at a public fair.

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That is the contradiction, the former ambassador says the same thing as two years ago, but it is presented at a fair, in addition to a report. There is a contradiction.

"That is the contradiction, the former ambassador says the same thing as two years ago, but it is presented at a fair, in addition to a report. There is a contradiction," Sheinbaum stated during a press conference at the National Palace. She emphasized that the central issue for Mexico is not Zambada's arrest, but the potential violation of Mexican sovereignty during his transfer to the U.S.

Salazar had reiterated that the aircraft used to transport Zambada was not owned by the U.S. government and that the operation was not organized by the United States. However, Sheinbaum countered that the Mexican Attorney General's Office believes the former ambassador has not told the full truth, suggesting "omission, [a] lie by the former ambassador."

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The end does not justify the means. Of course, this drug lord, this leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, it's good that he is detained. He had an arrest warrant here, but the issue is whether there was a violation of sovereignty in that detention.

Sheinbaum's administration has requested the Attorney General's Office to incorporate these new elements into its investigation into the case, citing indications of omissions and contradictions in the information provided by the former U.S. diplomat. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez supported the federal government's stance by recalling the 1990 case of Dr. Humberto Álvarez Machain, who was kidnapped in Mexico and transferred to the U.S. to face charges related to the murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena.

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And according to the [General] Prosecutor's Office, the truth is lacking from the former ambassador. That is what we are proposing (...) We say it every day in the relationship we have, and at this moment we consider that there was omission, a lie by the former ambassador.