*GUILTY* EL Chapo - Drug Cartel Chief, arrested Trafficking/conspiracy/firearms

[YESorNO]

Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 34m34 minutes ago
Judge Cogan's ruling limits questioning by El Chapo's lawyers of at least 7 other cooperating witnesses, and also several members of law enforcement who are expected to testify. Most notably, the jury won't get to hear this bit about El Chapo's 2012 capture.

Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 30m30 minutes ago
This ruling is yet another example of the incredible level secrecy surrounding this case. There have been dozens of documents filed under seal, along with at least 13 secret letters sent by the prosecution to the judge to justify secrecy and security measures.


Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 19m19 minutes ago
Will a cartel insider testify @ the Chapo trial that the president of Mexico took $6 million in bribes? We'll soon find out. The judge has limited the evidence to protect "individuals and entities who are not parties to the case and who would face embarrassment and harassment."


Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 18m18 minutes ago
There was a 20-min private sidebar on the issue this morning. That transcript will be sealed. The govt's motion trying to preclude testimony from Jesus Zambada Garcia will be redacted. The defense will be allowed to ask some questions, but not all the ones it wanted to.
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El Chapo trial: Court hears witness account of bloodshed, drug war murders

20 NOVEMBER 2018

"New York — The stories of dead bodies piled up high Monday as jurors at the trial of Joaquín Guzmán Loera heard gruesome testimony about six brutal drug war murders.

One of the victims nearly had his head cut off by a fusillade of gunfire. Another was killed on his doorstep after being lured from home by false news that his son had just been run down by a car.

A third made a small, but fatal, error: He refused one day to shake Guzmán’s hand...."

El Chapo trial: Court hears witness account of bloodshed, drug war murders | IOL News
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• Lucy Anna Gray 20 November 2018 13:52

A former lieutenant for Guzman's cartel testified on Monday that the infamous drug kingpin relied on rampant bloodshed and bribery to protect his multibillion-dollar smuggling operation

Jesus Zambada told the jury that the gunplay and cash payoffs were key components of the Sinaloa cartel's business model. The jurors were shown a photo of the pistol decorated with Guzman's initials as the witness described the brutal way the cartel dealt with various violent threats and personal slights.


20 November 2018 13:53
According to Zambada, a corrupt police commander was assassinated in 2008 for telling people "that he was going to finish off my brother and Chapo," and another drug dealer who was struck down by "a hail of bullets from Ak-47" that nearly took off his head.



20 November 2018 13:53
Zambada described being told by one of his paid informants within law enforcement that authorities were close to capturing Guzman. It was suggested that the cartel should give a $250,000 bribe to a ranking officer, after which, "The operation was aborted. There was no problem," he said.



20 November 2018 13:54
The defence has argued that cooperators like Zambada are framing Guzman to win favour from the court in their own criminal cases. On cross-examination Monday, the defence sought to suggest Zambada was minimising his own role in the cartel and exaggerating that of Guzman as a mythical kingpin known for escaping Mexican prisons, when really they say he was in hiding most of his life of crime and not calling the shots.

Defense attorney William Purpura asked Zambada how it was possible Guzman outranked him when there was evidence Guzman needed to go through him to get his supplies of cocaine. For emphasis, the lawyer pulled down Zambada's mugshot from a lower portion of a cartel organisational chart on display in the courtroom and held it above one of Guzman.

"How does that look?" the lawyer asked.
"Fine," the witness said with a smirk before quickly qualifying the answer by adding, "I'm below him."



20 November 2018 13:54
Jesus 'El Rey' Zambada is expected to return to the witness stand today.



20 November 2018 15:39
The transcript of a 20-minute sidebar conversation will remain sealed, and the government’s motion attempting to preclude Jesus Zambada Garcia’s testimony will also remain redacted.



20 November 2018 14:01
In case you missed it yesterday, key witness Jesus 'El Rey' Zamabada claimed Guzman ordered the murder of a man who had refused to shake his hand at a meeting.

Guzman had ordered Rodolfo Carrillo, a member of the rival Juarez cartel and brother of its leader, killed after he declined to shake Guzman's hand at a meeting, Zambada said. The 2004 killing, according to Zambada, fuelled a turf war between the cartels.
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Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 29m29 minutes ago
Just published @vicenews: A guide to El Chapo, featuring all four episodes of our podcast for far, plus a collection of my reporting on the trial

"Chapo": Listen to the real story behind the rise — and trial — of a kingpin
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[YESorNO]

• Chris Riotta 20 November 2018 15:44

The judge presiding over the Chapo trial is limiting evidence surrounding a cartel insider’s testimony in order to protect "individuals and entities who are not parties to the case and who would face embarrassment and harassment."



20 November 2018 15:55
Mexican actress Kate del Castillo will not be testifying in Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman’s trial. The celebrity made international headlines when she met the drug lord in 2016. He had contacted her through his lawyers, providing her rights to tell his life story.



20 November 2018 15:59
Jesus Zambada Garcia has testified the Sinaloa cartel had planned the murdering of Deputy Prosecutor José Luis Vasconcelos — High Command of PGR — “for not cooperating.”

According to Mr Garcia, the cartel wanted to kill the deputy prosecutor because he didn’t want to receive bribes.



20 November 2018 16:25
Reporters have sent a letter to the judge urging transparency after files remained sealed in court this morning that could be related to bribes possibly linked to Mexican presidents.

20 November 2018 16:29
One important theme surrounding Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman’s trial is the apparent lack of transparency in court activity.

Reporter Keegan Hamilton wrote the following on Twitter today from the court room: “This ruling is yet another example of the incredible level secrecy surrounding this case. There have been dozens of documents filed under seal, along with at least 13 secret letters sent by the prosecution to the judge to justify secrecy and security measures.”
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Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 31m31 minutes ago
ICYMI: Here's my interview this morning with @TheTakeaway about the latest developments in El Chapo's trial

El Chapo's Trial is Opening a Can of Worms: Mexican Government Corruption

November 20, 2018

"...Keegan Hamilton, co-host of the VICE News podcast “Chapo” and U.S. editor, joins The Takeaway to discuss developments in the trial.

And Steven Dudley, co-director for InsightCrime, a think tank based in American University focusing on organized crime, joins us to discuss Mexico's drug war strategy.

Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear this segment. ..."

El Chapo's Trial is Opening a Can of Worms: Mexican Government Corruption | The Takeaway | WNYC Studios
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Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 24m24 minutes ago
Fun fact of the day from the Chapo trial:

A statuette of Jesus Malverde, the "narco-saint" and a Sinaloan folklore hero, can be seen sitting on a shelf in the trial prep room used by El Chapo's lawyers. "It miraculously appeared," one of the lawyers, Eduardo Balarezo, said.
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Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 10m10 minutes ago
The spotting of a Jesus Malverde statue in the defense prep room is apparently the big news this morning out of the El Chapo trial

El Chapo’s lawyers are literally praying for an acquittal

November 20, 2018

"El Chapo’s team of high-paid lawyers are praying they can get the notorious accused drug lord acquitted — and have turned to Mexico’s narco saint Jesus Malverde for help.

A 6-inch statuette of the folk hero, who is hailed in Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s home country as an “angel of the poor,” is prominently featured on a shelf inside the defense’s conference room in Brooklyn federal court.

The figurine is of Malverde seated atop a purple throne with fistfuls of cash and a gold bag of money resting on his lap. It retails on Amazon for $27.96.

It’s visible through the window of the tiny conference room, which sits between the eighth-floor courtroom, where Guzman’s trial has been playing out, and a hallway...."

https://nypost.com/2018/11/20/el-chapos-lawyers-are-literally-praying-for-an-acquittal/

Jesús Malverde

"Jesús Malverde, possibly born as Jesús Juarez Mazo (1870–1909) (pronounced [xeˈsus malˈβeɾ.ðe]), sometimes known as the "generous bandit", "angel of the poor",[1] or the "narco-saint", is a folklore hero in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. He was of Yoreme and Spanish heritage. He is a "Robin Hood figure" who was supposed to have stolen from the rich to give to the poor.[2]

He is celebrated as a folk saint by some in Mexico and the United States, particularly among those involved in drug trafficking..."

Jesús Malverde - Wikipedia
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Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 6m6 minutes ago
Jesus Zambada testifies at Chapo trial that the Sinaloa drug cartel put together a $50 million pool of protection money for GARCIA LUNA, Mexico's former secretary of public security.


Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 4m4 minutes ago
Zambada said he personally gave Luna $3 million in a briefcase when Luna was in charge of the Agency of Federal Investigation to ensure that a police commander sympathetic to his brother, Mayo Zambada, was in charge of the police in Culiacan.


Alan Feuer‏ @alanfeuer 3m3 minutes ago
At a second meeting with Luna, when he was public security secretary, Zambada gave him another $3 million in a briefcase ensure that the Mayo Zambada could his drug trafficking operations unmolested.
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• Chris Stevenson 20 November 2018 18:42

This morning also involved a 20-minute side-bar with the judge this morning about the testimony of Jesus Zambada Garcia and how it will effect parties outside of the case.

The upshot was that Guzman's defence team will be allowed to ask some questions, but not everything that it wanted to.

 

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Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 23m23 minutes ago
Zambada Garcia implicated President-elect of Mexico, @lopezobrador_, under cross exam today. He testified that in 2005, he met with one of Lopez Obrador's deputies and, under his brother's orders, paid him “... a few million dollars ... for our protection.”

 

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Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 42m42 minutes ago
Keegan Hamilton Retweeted Víctor Sancho

Aquí en español, el testimonio sobre el cártel de Sinaloa sobornando al máximo funcionario de la ley de México bajo Felipe Calderón.

(Here in Spanish, the testimony about the Sinaloa cartel bribing the highest official of Mexico's law under Felipe Calderón.)

--------------Víctor Sancho‏ @vsancho
Bomba en el testimonio de "El Rey" Zambada en el juicio de #ElChapo: "El Mayo" Zambada sobornó en dos ocasiones y con maletines millonarios ($3 millones la primera vez, $3-5 millones la segunda) a Genaro García Luna, secretario de seguridad pública del gobierno de Felipe Calderón

11:17 AM - 20 Nov 2018

Bomb in the testimony of "El Rey" Zambada in the trial of #ElChapo: "El Mayo" Zambada bribed twice and with millionaire briefcases ($ 3 million the first time, $ 3-5 million the second) to Genaro García Luna, secretary of public security of the government of Felipe Calderón



Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 34m34 minutes ago
Keegan Hamilton Retweeted Víctor Sancho

Officials who worked directly beneath #AMLO, Mexico's president-elect, also accused of corruption in the latest testimony during the El Chapo trial.

------------Víctor Sancho‏ @vsancho
Otro soborno sonado: en 2005 "algunos millones de dólares" de El Mayo Zambada a Gabriel Regino, asesor de Andrés Manuel @lopezobrador_ era jefe de gobierno de la Ciudad de México, con la promesa que iba a ser secretario de Seguridad Pública si AMLO ganaba elecciones 2006

11:17 AM - 20 Nov 2018

Another bribe sounded: in 2005 "some millions of dollars" from El Mayo Zambada to Gabriel Regino, advisor to Andrés Manuel @lopezobrador_ was the head of government of Mexico City, with the promise that he would be secretary of Public Security if AMLO was winning 2006 elections


Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 31m31 minutes ago
Keegan Hamilton Retweeted Jan-Albert Hootsen

Amazing timing on this, but #AMLO now talking about pardoning Mexican officials accused of corruption

------------Jan-Albert Hootsen‏Verified account @jahootsen
Mexican president-elect ⁦@lopezobrador_⁩ says he considers a pardon for those who committed acts of corruption in the past (unless they are currently subject to investigation): ‘Tragic, horrible history of corruption, of impunity’ in Mexico must end.
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• Chris Riotta 20 November 2018 19:24

Cartel insider Jesus Zambada has testified the Sinaloa Cartel had organised a pool of protection money for Mexico’s former secretary of public security, Garcia Luna, totaling $50m.

The funds were hand delivered to Mr Luna at times in briefcases by Mr Zambada, ensuring he would designate someone to become the head of police in Culiacan who was sympathetic to his brother, Mayo Zambada.



20 November 2018 19:27
Jesus Zambada continued his testimony about a protection money fund for Garcia Luna, Mexico’s former secretary of public security, saying in a second meeting with the official he handed over $3m in a suitcase to ensure his brother, Mayo Zambada, could perform his drug trafficking operations without interference.

Mr Zambada also described a previous encounter with Mr Luna in which he handed $3m to him in a suitcase.



20 November 2018 19:43
Jesus Zambada has claimed the Sinaloa Cartel bribed the top Mexcian law official under former President Felipe Calderón.

But Garcia Luna is not alone; officials working underneath Mexico’s president-elect are also accused of corruption.




20 November 2018 19:47
Meanwhile, Mexico’s president-elect Andrés Manuel has said he may consider pardons for those accused of past act of corruption in an incredibly-timed interview.

The president-elect added that the “tragic, horrible history of corruption, of impunity” across the country must come to an end.

(translated on Google Translate)

There will be forgiveness for past corruption cases: López Obrador
"Yes, it is a pardon, he is considering telling the people of Mexico that there is an end point, that the tragic horrific history of corruption and impunity ends," said the president-elect.

"MEXICO CITY.- The president-elect, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said on Tuesday that there could be forgiveness for corruption cases that have been committed in the past.

Interviewed after paying tribute for the anniversary of the beginning of the Revolution and the assassination of Francisco I. Madero, he said that corruption cases that are ongoing will continue to be investigated , but there will be forgiveness .

"Revenge is not my strong point, and I do not think it's good for the country that we get bogged down in persecuting corrupt suspects, and if we chose to do so, as we are honest, we would have to start with the top ones and not just the top ones. Now, from time ago, because this crisis is not from last month. Then we have to solve this, because if not everything is going to be pure scandal, 'today he fell so-and-so, tomorrow perengano' ... because they have to be those of mere top, not scapegoats, "he said.

Asked if this does not mean a pardon, the president-elect responded that it is a final point to end the history of corruption.

"Yes, it is a pardon, he is considering telling the people of Mexico that there is an end point, that the tragic horrific history of corruption and impunity ends . Let us begin a new stage, which has already started a new history and that forward there will be no forgiveness for any corrupt person, "he added.

López Obrador also explained to the media that he is considering joining public media, dependent on the state, to form a kind of "BBC" or as in Spain, an independent institute to guarantee the right to information.

The president-elect placed a wreath in the park to remember Madero's murder; he did it accompanied by his wife Beatriz Gutiérrez and ex-minister Olga Sánchez."

Habrá perdón para casos de corrupción del pasado: López Obrador



20 November 2018 19:52
El Rey Zambada has also named Gabriel Regino — a former secretary for Mexico’s president-elect — as one of the officials alleged to have accepted bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel.

As mayor of Mexico City, Mr Zambada has claimed Mr Regino accepted “a few million dollars” in bribes from the cartel in 2005.



20 November 2018 19:59
According to Jesus Zambada’s testimony, former Mexico City Mayor Gabriel Regino was bribed by the sinaloa cartel because it was rumoured the official was in line to become the nation’s next secretary of security.

The cartel had allegedly hoped to bribe him in order for his compliance surrounding its drug trafficking operations.
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Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 1h1 hour ago
Zambada Garcia implicated President-elect of Mexico, @lopezobrador_, under cross exam today. He testified that in 2005, he met with one of Lopez Obrador's deputies and, under his brother's orders, paid him “... a few million dollars ... for our protection.”


Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 34m34 minutes ago
Aforementioned deputy was @gabrielregino, who responded to the damning testimony this afternoon in quick time. Tweeting in Spanish: "It is false that during my public service exercise, I have received any bribery from the witness Jesus Zambada."



Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 17m17 minutes ago
“When it came to political corruption on behalf of Mayo, you would want to corrupt from the highway police to the federal police?” Purpura asked Zambada Garcia. “If Mayo could corrupt the president of Mexico, he’d do it, wouldn’t he?” “Perhaps,” Mayo's brother replied.



Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 16m16 minutes ago
Zambada Garcia also testified about meeting Sec of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna between 05 and 06. “The purpose of the meeting at that restaurant is you were gonna bribe him and give him $3 million, right?” Purpura asked. “Yes,” ZG said.



Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 13m13 minutes ago
This was so Luna would appoint a corrupt official as head of police in Culiacan--who Mayo had "in his .. pocket." “In this briefcase, there was $3-5 million,” Purpura said. “Yes, there was money,” Zambada Garcia responded. “There’s money — and there’s money.” “That’s right.”


Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 7m7 minutes ago
Keegan Hamilton Retweeted gabrielregino

AMLO's deputy is denying the bribery allegations

-----gabrielregino‏ @gabrielregino
4. Es falso que durante mi ejercicio del servicio público, haya recibido soborno alguno por parte del testificante Jesús Zambada.

11:20 AM - 20 Nov 2018

4. It is false that during my public service, he received a bribe from the testifier Jesús Zambada.
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• Chris Riotta 20 November 2018 20:04

Jesus Zambada, a Cartel insider and turncoat who has spent his testimony snitching against his former colleagues, was reportedly swiveling in his chair while under cross-examination during the trial of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, occasionally stroking his mustache and at other times smirking.

Reporters in the room have said Chapo spent the last three days of testimony staring Mr Zambada down.


20 November 2018 20:11
Sinaloa cartel turncoat Jesus Zambada gave a nod to Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman after delivering his final testimony on Tuesday afternoon, as if saying goodbye to the drug lord (today’s hearings will likely be their last time seeing each other in court, if not forever).

Chapo, who has spent the last three days staring down Mr Zambada, gave him a “half nod” back, according to Fox News producer Marta Dhanis.



20 November 2018 21:01
Gabriel Regino, who worked for Mexico's president-elect while he served as the former mayor of Mexico City, refuted the testimony claiming he was bribed by the Sinaloa cartel in 2005 while live-tweeting the trial.

 

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Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 14m14 minutes ago
Zambada Garcia testified that three members of the Sinaloa Cartel put together $50 million as protection money for Luna just a year after the aforementioned bribe.


Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 11m11 minutes ago
Purpura returned to the gov’s gallery of Sinaloa Cartel members — crossing off faces 1 by 1 as either missing or dead. “Carrillo Fuentes is deceased,” the lawyer said. ZG agreed. El Azul is dead, too: “That’s what I believe,” ZG concurred. Arturo Beltran Leyva? “Dead.”


Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 10m10 minutes ago
Then came Hector Beltran Leyva, who died of a heart attack on Monday. “I think he’s in prison," Zambada Garcia responded. "He's not here." Purpura didn’t correct him.


Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 7m7 minutes ago
His brother El Mayo? “Probably in the mountains.” “Then the only person here is, who? Joaquin Guzman, El Chapo?” Purpura said. “Who’s the key to you getting out of prison early?” “The judge is the one who makes that decision,” Zambada Garcia responded. Trial resumes El Lunes

 

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El Chapo stares down snitch during his testimony in drug-trafficking trial

November 20, 2018

"A Sinaloa Cartel turncoat remained unflappable under questioning by the lawyer representing his former boss, accused killer Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in Brooklyn court Tuesday.

Government snitch Jesus “El Rey” Zambada at times smirked, stroked his mustache and swiveled in his chair while under cross-examination at the drug-trafficking trial of Guzman.

During questioning by defense lawyer William Purpura in Brooklyn federal court, it was revealed that Zambada lived in Las Vegas for six months while he was in high school at the age of 14 and drove around in a Porsche...."

El Chapo stares down snitch during his testimony in drug-trafficking trial - Latest Update
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El Chapo trial witness: Ex-Mexico security chief was bribed

11/20/2018, 03:08pm

"NEW YORK — A government witness at the U.S. trial of the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo says his cartel bribed the country’s former top security chief and another person who once worked under the current president-elect.

Former cartel member Jesus Zambada testified Tuesday that in the mid-2000s he gave $6 million in drug money to the security chief, Genero Garcia Luna...."

El Chapo trial witness: Ex-Mexico security chief was bribed
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[YESorNO]

• Chris Riotta 20 November 2018 21:07

Here's a recap of today's most important developments arising out of Sinaloa cartel turncoat El Rey Zambada's testimony, via AP:

A government witness at the U.S. trial of the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo says his cartel bribed the country’s former top security chief and another person who once worked under the current president-elect.

Former cartel member Jesus Zambada testified Tuesday that in the mid-2000s he gave $6 million in drug money to the security chief, Genero Garcia Luna.

Zambada also claimed that more million-dollar payments were made to Gabriel Regino, who worked in the administration of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s administration when Lopez Obrador was mayor of Mexico City.
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Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton 2m2 minutes ago
Keegan Hamilton Retweeted Keegan Hamilton

Important correction to previous tweets in this thread. CW1 is apparently not El Rey Zambada. The cooperating witnesses are not identified in court documents by the order in which they are being called to testify.

-----
Keegan Hamilton‏Verified account @keegan_hamilton
Here's Judge Cogan's heavily redacted ruling on the government's motion to preclude cross-examination. He grants the request to block El Chapo's lawyers from questioning of El Rey Zambada about a bribe and his "unorthodox interests." https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5204073-Judge-Cogan-ruling-on-government-motion-to.html …

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Molly Crane-Newman‏Verified account @molcranenewman 18m18 minutes ago
***FYI: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the CURRENT president-elect of Mexico. For the first half of 2005, he was mayor of Mexico City. He resigned in a (failed) bid for the presidency