During his participation in Aristegui en Vivo, journalist Jesús Esquivel revealed new details about the case of General Salvador Cienfuegos, former Secretary of National Defense. Cienfuegos was arrested in the United States in 2020 for alleged links to drug trafficking and later repatriated to Mexico.
According to Esquivel, Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero did not respond during the press conference whether he was previously informed about the investigation against Cienfuegos. In the transcript, Prosecutor Seth DuCharme stated that the case was "solid" and that the charges of drug trafficking and government corruption were supported. Esquivel mentioned that Cienfuegos' repatriation was the result of negotiations between both countries.
It was highlighted that the decision to repatriate Cienfuegos was made "at the highest level" of the U.S. government under the supervision of then-Attorney General William Barr. Judge Amon pointed out that Mexico committed to investigate and prosecute the general.
Esquivel revealed in the interview with an anonymous U.S. prosecutor who resigned in protest of the repatriation agreement. This prosecutor confirmed that the complete file was not delivered to Mexico and remains sealed in the Department of Justice. The anonymous prosecutor explained that revealing its contents is a federal crime in the United States and will only be declassified if others involved are arrested or extradited.
The role of Jesús Vicente Zambada Niebla, alias "El Vicentillo," son of drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who contributed to the preparation of the file, was mentioned. Esquivel stated that Zambada Niebla had visited Los Pinos during Vicente Fox's government to pressure Mexican authorities.
Marcelo Ebrard, who was foreign minister at the time, confirmed that the decision to repatriate was made to avoid a unilateral action that could affect bilateral cooperation. Ebrard also mentioned that Mexico threatened to expel 70 DEA agents if Cienfuegos was not repatriated, a measure supported by President Donald Trump.
The file delivered to Mexico, over 700 pages long, has illegible parts, suggesting it contains sensitive information. Esquivel also mentioned that the prosecutor appeared upset when asked about the case during an investigation that culminated in his book 'At Your Orders, My General'. The book includes interviews with officials about the Cienfuegos case, including a fragment of the hearing that authorized the repatriation of the general.
