The El Chapo Files: El Chapo And The Venue Change Request Before His Trial (6/26/24)

Beyond The Horizon

During his trial, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the notorious leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, requested a venue change. His legal team argued that the intense media coverage and public interest in New York City would prevent a fair trial. They contended that potential jurors would likely be biased due to the extensive and negative publicity surrounding Guzmán's case.
The defense pointed out that the trial's location in Brooklyn, close to the media hub of New York City, increased the likelihood of prejudice among jurors. They also expressed concerns about security and the logistical challenges of conducting a high-profile trial in such a densely populated area.
Despite these arguments, the judge denied the request for a venue change. The court determined that sufficient measures could be taken to ensure an impartial jury and a fair trial. These measures included rigorous jury selection procedures and instructions to jurors to avoid media coverage of the case.
In this episode, we take a look at that argument as we dive deep into the El Chapo files.
(commercial at 12:00)
to contact me:
[e-mail]