Cienfuegos will not be prosecuted/ Tensions with US?
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Cienfuegos will not be prosecuted/ Tensions with US?

Photo by:   Gobierno de México
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Paloma Duran By Paloma Duran | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Fri, 01/15/2021 - 11:10

FGR will not prosecute Salvador Cienfuegos. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that his government supports the decision of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to not prosecute former Minister of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos. “The government I represent supports this decision because we believe that corruption and impunity must end, but also that we cannot invent crimes," the president said. Moreover, López Obrador said the file sent by the US government to Mexico will be open to the public so it can be consulted, reviewed and investigated by any Mexican.

Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrad added that the investigation is not over and that there are other important elements that must be investigated. However, there was not enough evidence to prosecute Cienfuegos, he said.

On Oct. 15, 2020, Cienfuegos was arrested at the Los Angeles airport at the request of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Cienfuegos was accused of using his high rank to provide protection to the H2 cartel by warning them of possible military operations against them and directing the Army and its resources against other cartels. He was also accused of accepting multimillion-dollar bribes and introducing heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the US.

Possible tensions with the US government over the opening of Cienfuegos' file. López Obrador said that Mexico has not spoken with the US government but he hopes that it will understand the opening of Cienfuegos’ file. "We must show our position in this case. Our citizens are not obliged to accept our version but we have the duty to inform and not hide anything because the more transparency the better," the president said. In addition, the president announced he will amend the National Security Law to improve cooperation between Mexico and other countries, especially with the US due to the possible tensions over the Cienfuegos file.

Vaccinations continue. Through a video call, the president contacted the hospital authorities in Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Sonora and Jalisco to demonstrate the application of vaccines to health workers. López Obrador said that after the vaccination of health workers, the government will begin to administer the vaccine to the elderly. "We all have to act responsibly and wait for our turn. I’m calling on all Mexicans to avoid favoritism,” the president said. Moreover, López Obrador congratulated Pfizer for having the most administered vaccine in the world and fulfilling contracts with several countries.

Mexico ranks 12th worldwide in the application of vaccines. López Obrador said Mexico has administered 329,983 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, ranking the country 12th worldwide. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said that the vaccines are being applied as soon as they arrive to the hospitals and as a result, Mexico is among the leading countries in terms of most vaccinations. Moreover, López Obrador said, “the UN must collaborate with all governments to guarantee the application of the COVID-19 vaccine to all people in the world.”

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish

Photo by:   Gobierno de México

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