Jeffrey Lichtman, Ovidio Guzman’s lawyer, launched strong criticism against Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whom he accused ... Sinaloa Cartel’s public relations officer.

This, after the president described his statements following the hearing in which his client pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in the United States as "disrespectful."

Through his X account, Lichtman lashed out at Sheinbaum after the Mexican government rebuked his statements, in which he also criticized the alleged inaction of Mexican authorities in the fight against organized crime.

"The president of Mexico @Claudiashein is disgusted with my sincere comments about her corrupt office and government (...). The Mexican people and I know that she acts more like the public relations arm of a drug trafficking organization than the honest leader that the Mexican people deserve," the lawyer posted.

Tensions arose after Lichtman defended the plea agreement signed between Guzmán López and the US government, which - he said - did not involve Mexico because “he had no business being there.”

During a hearing in Chicago, Ovidio, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, pleaded guilty to four drug trafficking charges and agreed to pay $80 million. According to judicial sources, he could enter the witness protection program.

Sheinbaum’s Response

In response, President Sheinbaum described Lichtman’s statements as “disrespectful.” From Culiacán, Sinaloa, the defendant’s hometown, she affirmed that her government does not maintain relations of complicity with any criminal group.

“They are totally disrespectful to the presidential institution. We do not establish relations of complicity with anyone,” affirmed the Mexican president.

In addition, she announced that the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) would take action on the matter. Minutes later,The Attorney General's Office urged the lawyer to present evidence of any crime of which he is aware to Mexican authorities, warning that failure to do so could constitute a legal violation.

Other allegations

Lichtman, known for his defense of “El Chapo” Guzmán, criticized the release of General Salvador Cienfuegos during Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration despite accusations of alleged ties to drug trafficking, and questioned the Mexican government's failure to capture Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, according to the weekly Proceso.

“For 40 years the Mexican government did nothing to capture the man who was probably the biggest drug trafficker in the world, who lived right under their noses,” Lichtman said.

He also accused the Mexican government of violating bilateral agreements by disclosing evidence in the Cienfuegos case and noted that testimony in the trial of "El Chapo" demonstrated that the cartels had bribed the highest levels of the Mexican Army and government.

Sheinbaum, for her part, defended the country's institutional position and affirmed that Guzmán's case falls directly under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General's Office. "Everyone can say what they want, but there must be respect. There is no impunity for anyone, nor is there complicity," she reiterated.