Mexico"s president challenges ex-security chief over drug ties claims
- Genaro García Luna, a former top security official, has accused President López Obrador of having ties to drug trafficking.
- López Obrador has demanded that García Luna provide evidence to support his claims, suggesting he consult the DEA.
- The allegations come as García Luna faces sentencing for drug trafficking and corruption, raising concerns about political corruption in Mexico.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has demanded that former Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna provide evidence for his claims of the president's alleged connections to drug trafficking. This demand follows a letter from García Luna, who is currently imprisoned in the United States after being convicted of drug trafficking charges. In his letter, he accused López Obrador of having ties to the Sinaloa cartel, specifically mentioning Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, who was arrested in Texas. García Luna's allegations come just weeks before López Obrador is set to leave office, amidst previous accusations that his presidential campaign received funding from drug traffickers. López Obrador responded to García Luna's claims during a news briefing, urging him to share any purported evidence, including videos and communications, with the public. He suggested that García Luna consult with the DEA for assistance in substantiating his allegations. García Luna, who served under former presidents Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón, maintains his innocence and claims that he has been offered a deal by U.S. prosecutors to become a protected witness in exchange for a reduced sentence. The former security chief faces a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for October 9. He has been accused of embezzling nearly $746 million from government contracts and has allegedly attempted to bribe fellow inmates to support his case for a new trial. García Luna's claims and the surrounding controversy highlight the ongoing issues of corruption and drug trafficking within Mexico's political landscape. As the situation unfolds, the implications of these allegations could have significant repercussions for López Obrador's administration and its efforts to combat drug-related violence and corruption in Mexico. The public's response to these claims and the evidence presented will likely influence the political climate as the country moves forward.