Ovidio's lawyer accuses Sheinbaum; political crisis erupts

A political and diplomatic crisis has erupted between Mexico and U.S. judicial figures. Ovidio Guzmán's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, launched a blistering attack on President Claudia Sheinbaum, calling her administration "corrupt," prompting a resounding response: a defamation lawsuit.
Mexico's political arena has been rocked by a high-stakes war of words that threatens to strain relations with the United States. Jeffrey Lichtman , Ovidio Guzmán's well-known lawyer , directly attacked President Claudia Sheinbaum and her government, unleashing a media storm and an unprecedented legal response from the National Palace.
The conflict escalated after Lichtman, responding to Sheinbaum's criticism of his client's legal proceedings in the U.S., called the president's comments "hypocritical" and described the Mexican government as "corrupt."
To support his accusations and highlight what he considers a lack of reliability in the Mexican judicial system, Lichtman brought up the controversial case of General Salvador Cienfuegos. He recalled how the former Secretary of Defense was returned to Mexico by the United States for trial, only to be "immediately exonerated," a fact that, according to the lawyer, demonstrates why Washington cannot rely on Mexican cooperation.
"The idea that the United States government would include the Mexican government in any negotiation or decision is absurd," Lichtman declared, laying the groundwork for a narrative of deep mistrust between the two nations.
The Mexican government's reaction was immediate and forceful. President Claudia Sheinbaum called Lichtman's statements "totally disrespectful of the presidential institution" and announced that the Presidential Legal Counsel would file a defamation lawsuit.
"We do not establish relationships of collusion or complicity with anyone; the people of Mexico know that," the president stated during her morning press conference, seeking to defend the sovereignty and moral authority of her government.
This confrontation isn't a simple exchange of insults; it's a strategic battle with profound implications. The context is key: Ovidio Guzmán has left Chicago prison after reaching a plea deal with U.S. authorities. Such agreements often involve the cooperation of the defendant, who provides valuable information in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The Mexican government's nervousness and forceful response have been interpreted by analysts as a preemptive measure in the face of fears about what Ovidio Guzmán might reveal. The question that remains, keeping the political class on tenterhooks, is: What does Ovidio know that could implicate high-ranking officials from past administrations or even the current one? The case has become a potential "Pandora's box" that could shake the foundations of power in Mexico.
La Verdad Yucatán