FILE – In this Sept. 16, 2016 file photo, Defense Secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, left, and Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, salute during the annual Independence Day military parade in Mexico City’s main square. The U.S. Justice Department is dropping its drug trafficking and money laundering against former Mexican defense secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:46 AM PT – Tuesday, November 17, 2020
In a surprise move, the Department of Justice will abandon its drug case against Mexico’s former secretary of national defense. U.S. Attorney General William Barr and his Mexican counterpart Alejandro Gertz made the announcement Tuesday.
The officials confirmed the U.S. is dropping charges against General Salvador Cienfuegos, who was arrested in Los Angeles, California last month. Cienfuegos was allegedly caught trying to manufacture and distribute narcotics as well as launder money.
Joint Statement by Attorney General of the United States William P. Barr and FiscalÃa General of Mexico Alejandro Gertz Manero https://t.co/02vmPr2gC0 pic.twitter.com/hBN7IwAPPw
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) November 17, 2020
“The U.S. Justice Department has made the decision to drop criminal charges against former minister Cienfuegos Zepeda, so that he can be investigated,” stated Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. “And if warranted, charged under Mexican law.”
Attorney General Gertz said Mexico will conduct their own investigation and potentially charge Cienfuegos under his country’s jurisdiction.
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source https://www.oann.com/doj-drops-drug-charges-against-fmr-mexican-defense-official-mexico-vows-to-launch-investigation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doj-drops-drug-charges-against-fmr-mexican-defense-official-mexico-vows-to-launch-investigation
