In a recent court filing, lawyers for Genaro Garcia Luna, a former top Mexican law enforcement official, are seeking a new trial after he was convicted earlier this year on US charges. They argue that key witnesses lied on the stand and presented evidence that prosecutors’ cooperating witnesses had improperly communicated with each other before the trial. Garcia Luna, who served as Mexico’s public security minister from 2006-2012, was convicted in January and February following allegations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from drug traffickers. “Mr. Garcia Luna was convicted of charges of which he is innocent,” his lawyers wrote, stating that letting the verdict stand would be a manifest injustice.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn, which brought the charges, declined to comment on the matter. Prosecutors are due to reply on Jan. 19 before U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan decides whether or not to order a new trial. Garcia Luna, 55, is one of the highest-ranking Mexican officials ever accused of ties to drug trafficking. He was convicted on Feb. 21 on five criminal counts related to allegations that he accepted bribes from the infamous Sinaloa cartel once run by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in exchange for protection from arrest, safe passage for cocaine shipments and tipoffs about forthcoming law enforcement operations. Garcia Luna worked closely with U.S. counter-narcotics and intelligence agencies as part of former President Felipe Calderon’s crackdown on cartels.
In addition to seeking a new trial, defense lawyers also said prosecutors did not turn over evidence showing the Drug Enforcement Administration, Central Intelligence Agency, and other U.S. government agencies had conducted background checks on Garcia Luna and security services he worked with while in office. Garcia Luna is currently scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2024. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell)
