Judicial ‘corruption’ played a role in extradition decision: Friday’s mañanera recapped

President Claudia Sheinbaum gave small distant erstwhile asked astatine her Friday greeting property league astir the extradition of 29 cartel figures to the United States connected Thursday.

She did, however, instrumentality a jab astatine Mexico’s judiciary, and successful doing truthful alluded to astatine slightest portion of the crushed wherefore the Mexican authorities decided to nonstop the narcos (or alleged narcos) implicit the border.

At her last mañanera of the week — and the period — Sheinbaum besides spoke astir the looming menace of tariffs and the execution of Tenochtitlán ruler Cuauhtémoc 500 years ago.

Judicial corruption successful Mexico is ‘abnormal and offensive’

Sheinbaum declined to respond to a reporter’s question astir the extradition of 29 cause cartel figures to the United States connected Thursday, noting that Security Minister Omar García Harfuch and Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero would clasp a property league aboriginal successful the day.

“I tin accidental 1 happening to you — the corruption of the judicial powerfulness successful our state is abnormal and offensive,” the president said.

“How bully it is that the radical of Mexico took the determination to profoundly alteration the judicial power,” Sheinbaum said, adding that it was a “blessing for Mexico” that judicial elections volition beryllium held aboriginal this twelvemonth (thanks to a judicial betterment approved by Congress successful precocious 2024).

The irregular extradition of 29 cartel figures chopped abbreviated ongoing ineligible appeals successful Mexico. (Gobierno de México)

García Harfuch subsequently told reporters determination was a hazard that immoderate of the 29 defendants sent to the United States could person been released from situation if they remained successful Mexico.

“The information furniture has accusation that determination was a hazard that immoderate of these individuals requested by the United States authorities would person been released … owed to agreements with immoderate judges who sought to assistance them, arsenic has occurred connected different occasions and during galore years,” helium said.

The United States Justice Department said the Mexican authorities elected to transportation the defendants to the United States successful effect to its “efforts pursuant to President Trump’s directive” successful a caller executive order “to prosecute full elimination of these Cartels.”

Mexico’s Security Ministry and the Federal Attorney General’s Office said successful a associated statement that the extraditions were portion of the “work of coordination, practice and bilateral reciprocity wrong the model of respect for the sovereignty of some nations.”

Sheinbaum says determination is inactive clip to scope an statement to stave disconnected tariffs 

A newsman noted that determination is speculation that the transportation of the 29 cartel figures to the United States is simply a “bargaining chip” — portion of Mexico’s efforts to appease the Trump medication successful bid to stave disconnected 25% tariffs connected Mexican exports that are scheduled to instrumentality effect connected Tuesday.

“On the contented of these people,” Sheinbaum said, “Omar [García] and the lawyer wide volition springiness a property conference.”

“And astir this [tariff] contented determination are inactive 3 days to go,” she added.

President Sheinbaum sidestepped a question astir whether the extradition of 29 cartel figures to the U.S. mightiness beryllium a bargaining spot successful tariff negotiations. (Presidencia)

Sheinbaum said earlier successful the property league that a telephone oregon in-person gathering with Trump connected the tariff contented remained a possibility.

Murder of Cuauhtémoc an enactment of ‘enormous cruelty’ 

Shortly earlier attending a “state funeral” successful Mexico City’s cardinal quadrate to commemorate the 500th day of the decease of Mexica tlatoani Cuauhtémoc, Sheinbaum spoke astir the Mexica (or Aztec) ruler’s murder.

The execution of Cuauhtémoc successful 1525 was an enactment of “enormous cruelty,” she said.

Funerales de Estado: 500 Años de la Ejecución de Cuauhtémoc. Zócalo de la Ciudad de México https://t.co/m5FuZyZD5Q

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) February 28, 2025

“Cuauhtémoc was captured. He asked [Spanish conquistador Hernán] Cortés to termination him with his weapon astatine that time. Cortés said nary and kept him successful captivity for years. They took him to Coyoacán, they burnt the soles of his feet and his hands truthful helium would archer them wherever the golden was. And aft that they were taking him to Honduras but ended up hanging him successful Tabasco,” Sheinbaum said.

By Mexico News Daily main unit writer Peter Davies ([email protected])