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NEW YORK – Federal prosecutors on Monday dismissed their lawsuit against drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who told the trial judge that he would not stand up for his defense.
"I spoke to my lawyers and I will reserve myself," Guzman told Spanish judge Brian Cogan of the US District when he asked him if he intended to bear witness. Cogan asked Guzman when he was fully informed of his right to testify and if he was sure to waive this right. Guzman answered yes to both questions before sitting down.
Prosecutors have called 56 witnesses to testify against Guzman since the beginning of the trial in mid-November. In contrast, Guzman's lawyers were only supposed to call two defense witnesses. The two men are scheduled to testify Tuesday before closing their pleas Wednesday and Thursday. Judge Cogan said the jury could begin its deliberations as early as Thursday afternoon. Mexican actor Alejandro Edda said that he had gone to Federal Court in Brooklyn in the courtroom behind Guzman.
Edda stated that he had never seen Guzman and that it was "surrealistic" to see closely the man who was risking life imprisonment for leading the murderous cartel from Sinaloa.
The presence of Edda in the audience room caused a sensation, prompting an American marshal to remind those present "no hand gesture, no thumbs up. It's not Comedy Central. No laughing.
After leaving the court, Edda stated that he felt upset after seeing Guzman for the first time, especially when the accused's leader, Sinaloa, was smiling at him. "It's the guy everyone's talking about doing all these things," he continued. "This guy is the leader of a big … cartel … and, having him so close, that has shook me .I am intimidated by that."
Edda noted that as a Mexican well aware of Sinaloa's reputation, he had a very sad feeling for the crimes allegedly ordered by Guzman. And he seemed to have already made up his mind about Guzman's fate.
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"I think he's guilty.He committed a lot of horrible things," he told reporters at the same time. outside the audience room. "The sad part is that I know it's not the only one.I know that not only are the guys from Sinaloa the bad guys, there are a lot of them around us. "
Edda did not speak to Guzman – who clearly knew who the actor was and seemed to appreciate his presence – but he Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Chapo, who attended so constant at trial, exchanged a kiss on the cheek greeting, chatting briefly and taking a lift together.
Bryan Llenas contributed to this report
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