The ghost writer of Chapo Guzmán's letters: a mystery in the New York court
El exlíder del Cartel de Sinaloa, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, también conocido como 'El Chapo', ha estado enviando 23 cartas a un juez estadounidense, Brian Cogan, desde abril hasta julio de 2024, solicitando su extradición a México y quejas sobre el trato injusto en prisión. Sin embargo, investigaciones realizadas por EL PAÍS revelan que al menos dos de estas cartas fueron escritas por un ciudadano estadounidense llamado Aubrey Gideon, quien se hizo pasar por Guzmán. Las cartas, que incluyen declaraciones sobre la presidenta mexicana Claudia Sheinbaum y afirmaciones contradictorias sobre su historial criminal, han sido rechazadas por el juez debido a su falta de claridad y base legal. Los sellos postales de las cartas contradicen la ubicación de la prisión donde se encuentra Guzmán, generando sospechas sobre la autenticidad de las cartas.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former Prime Minister of Spain, has spoken publicly for the first time since being investigated in connection with the Plus Ultra case. In an interview with Javier Ruiz on the program Mañaneros 360, Zapatero addressed the discovery of 103 pieces of jewelry valued at €1.3 million found in his office on May 19. He described them as a "gift of courtesy," emphasizing they had no relation to political activities. Zapatero stated he had no intention of defrauding and expressed surprise at their assessed value, which he claimed would be challenged. Zapatero insisted that these items were part of a personal gift received many years ago, along with other family gifts, and that they had neither purpose nor destination. He acknowledged that he had not considered their value and emphasized that he would clarify all circumstances before the court, respecting the legal process. However, during his previous declaration before Judge José Luis Calama of the National Court on June 17, Zapatero refused to make statements regarding the issue. The investigation into Zapatero began on May 19, when he was charged as part of the Plus Ultra case, becoming the first former Spanish prime minister to face judicial scrutiny. On the same day, the Economic and Financial Crime Unit (UDEF) searched his office, the company owned by his daughters, and another belonging to a Venezuelan family, where the jewelry was discovered. In the context of the same case, Julio Martínez Martínez, Zapatero’s financial manager, testified last Tuesday that Zapatero informed him on February 26, 2021, that the government intended to rescue the airline Plus Ultra. The credit was approved several days later in a cabinet meeting on March 9, 2021. Additionally, Martínez confirmed receiving an illegal commission related to the actions taken by Zapatero. Zapatero denied these claims entirely, stating he did not know what the Council of the State Enterprise Participation Institute (Sepi) would decide and that he did not know anyone from the council. He emphasized that the approval of the airline rescue, worth €53 million in public funds, was handled by the council and the cabinet. He added that he had no knowledge of whether the airline would be rescued or not. Zapatero further denied involvement in the rescue of Plus Ultra and stated he did not communicate with the current government led by Pedro Sánchez to facilitate the operation. When asked if the investigation would find evidence of Zapatero exerting influence or pressure regarding Plus Ultra, he categorically denied it, asserting that no one could prove he influenced decisions or even spoke with officials from Sepi or the government. Zapatero also discussed his role as a consultant for Analysis Relevante (AR), a company owned by his friend Julio Martínez, through which he earned €75,000 gross annually over six years. He explained that clients knew he was the consultant and that his work consisted solely of consultancy services. He denied having any intention or participation in any company or signing contracts with clients. He argued it was completely normal to receive compensation similar to what he received elsewhere and dismissed the idea that AR was a front company, noting it was established for legitimate purposes. Zapatero's statements come amid ongoing investigations into potential conflicts of interest and alleged misuse of public funds linked to the Plus Ultra case. His denial of involvement contrasts sharply with the testimonies of individuals close to him, including Julio Martínez, who has provided detailed accounts of their interactions and financial dealings. The situation highlights the complexity of the legal proceedings surrounding Zapatero, with multiple layers of allegations and defenses. While Zapatero maintains his innocence and emphasizes respect for the judicial process, the investigation continues to uncover new details that could impact the outcome of the case. Zapatero’s interview marks a significant moment in the unfolding narrative of the Plus Ultra case, offering insight into his perspective while raising questions about the nature of the evidence and the extent of his involvement. As the investigation progresses, more information is expected to emerge, potentially reshaping the understanding of the events under scrutiny.
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How each side covered it
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Ex-Presidente José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero negó tener intención de defraudar y describió las 103 piezas de joyería encontradas en su despacho como 'regalos de cortesía' que no tienen relación con su actividad política. En una entrevista, Zapatero afirmó que no conocía el valor patrimonial de las joyas y que no había pensado en ellas. Sin embargo, fue imputado en el marco del caso Plus Ultra, donde se investiga el rescate de la aerolínea Plus Ultra por 53 millones de euros públicos. Su pagador, Julio Martínez, declaró que Zapatero le informó sobre el rescate antes de que se tomara la decisión en el Consejo de Ministros. Zapatero negó haber participado en el rescate ni haber interactuado con autoridades para facilitarlo.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Zapatero's statements and legal implications without overtly favoring any political side. It reports his defense against allegations of fraud and denies involvement in the Plus Ultra rescue case, while also detailing the legal proceedings against him. The tone remains neutral,聚焦
Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports on Zapatero’s comments regarding the jewelry found in his office, including his statements about them being a 'gift of courtesy' and not related to political duties. It also mentions the legal implications and the investigation into the case, providing factual informat
Why objectivity (75): The article maintains a generally neutral tone, reporting on Zapatero’s statements and the legal situation. However, there is some subtle emphasis on the controversy surrounding the jewelry, which may lean slightly towards highlighting the public interest aspect rather than maintaining strict neutra
El PaísIndependent🔒ProgressiveFactual 65Objective 7013 days ago
El exlíder del Cartel de Sinaloa, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, también conocido como 'El Chapo', ha estado enviando 23 cartas a un juez estadounidense, Brian Cogan, desde abril hasta julio de 2024, solicitando su extradición a México y quejas sobre el trato injusto en prisión. Sin embargo, investigaciones realizadas por EL PAÍS revelan que al menos dos de estas cartas fueron escritas por un ciudadano estadounidense llamado Aubrey Gideon, quien se hizo pasar por Guzmán. Las cartas, que incluyen declaraciones sobre la presidenta mexicana Claudia Sheinbaum y afirmaciones contradictorias sobre su historial criminal, han sido rechazadas por el juez debido a su falta de claridad y base legal. Los sellos postales de las cartas contradicen la ubicación de la prisión donde se encuentra Guzmán, generando sospechas sobre la autenticidad de las cartas.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue by highlighting the potential fraud committed by an American citizen impersonating a Mexican drug cartel leader, which could have implications for justice system integrity and international relations. The emphasis on the illegality of the impersonation and the lack of a
Why factuality (65): The article discusses a different event from the primary source document (El Chapo's letters to a judge), making it unrelated to the main topic of his capture. While the content is factually accurate regarding the letters and the legal proceedings, it does not align with the primary source about his
Why objectivity (70): The tone remains neutral and informative, presenting the facts about the legal correspondence without apparent bias. However, the focus on the legal process and the potential identity of the letter-writer could be seen as slightly more analytical than purely objective.
ABC (España)IndependentCenterFactual 60Objective 709 days ago
The article reports on José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's first appearance in the media since his indictment in the Plus Ultra case, which was announced on May 19th. The coverage highlights his live interview discussing the ongoing investigation and recent developments related to the case. The focus is on the legal implications of his indictment and the public interest in his comments.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information regarding Zapatero's legal situation and does not take a clear ideological stance. It focuses on reporting the event rather than promoting a particular viewpoint. While the subject is politically sensitive, the framing remains neutral and objective.
Why factuality (60): This article is incomplete and only covers the beginning of an ongoing live interview with Zapatero. As such, it lacks sufficient detail to assess full factual accuracy. It references the case Plus Ultra and Zapatero’s imputation, which are factually correct, but the lack of complete information lim
Why objectivity (70): The tone is neutral and journalistic, focusing on the event without evident bias. However, since the content is cut off mid-interview, it doesn't provide enough material to determine if any subjective framing was applied.
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