Durazo considers Jeffrey Lichtman's statements "disrespectful, unacceptable, and deceitful."

MEXICO CITY (apro).- Although President Claudia Sheinbaum avoided mentioning the statements made by Ovidio Guzmán's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, on Saturday, Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo called the statements disrespectful, unacceptable, and untrue, although he admitted that the issue "doesn't affect me, but I won't take it out."

At the inauguration of the IMSS-Bienestar Rural Hospital in Vícam Switch, Guaymas, he took a few minutes to support the federal governor in the face of accusations that she has become the Sinaloa Cartel's publicist.

"I'm not one to delve into a current issue, but I won't take away from the recent statements made by the lawyer for a drug trafficker, who the United States has gone from considering a terrorist to now establishing a collaboration agreement with its prosecutors."

He criticized the lawyer for "having relationships with confessed criminals for commercial reasons, derived from the money he receives from them for his services as a defense attorney."

In a speech read, the local leader spoke throughout Sonora:

“In Sonora, we completely reject and condemn them and reiterate our unwavering support for President Claudia Sheinbaum—an act that she thanked amid applause—who, unlike this lawyer, is neither corrupt nor improperly involved in any collusion with anyone.”

Mexico's sovereignty and the proven honesty of our president, he affirmed, are completely safe from such infamy.

"You have the support, Madam President, of the people of Sonora and your government in this new onslaught... President, President, President... of those who must understand that the relationship between Mexico and the United States is based on equality, respect for sovereignty, and collaboration that sees the well-being and benefit of both countries."

The state official said that Sheinbaum “has been extraordinarily supportive of Sonora, and because we have learned that love is repaid with love, the people of Sonora are with you and we will always carry you in our hearts.”

Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman posted on social media this Friday: “He can call all the hasty press conferences he wants, but the Mexican people (and I myself) know he acts more like the public relations arm of a drug trafficking organization than the honest leader the Mexican people deserve.”

He also stated: “The numerous witnesses who appeared before the court in the El Chapo Guzmán case, in which I participated, made it clear that the cartels had bribed the Mexican military and the Mexican government at the highest levels to avoid being harassed, detained, and prosecuted in Mexico. It was Mexicans, and in many cases Colombians, who testified to this.”