The court-appointed, taxpayer-paid federal defenders want more time with him, and raised a conflict of interest question:
Adding to the complexity of the case, the government also raised concerns about Mr. Guzmán’s legal representation by the federal defenders, saying there was a potential conflict of interest because the defenders’ office has previously represented five potential witnesses with connections to Mr. Guzmán.
The judge appointed Matthew Fishbein, a partner at Manhattan law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, to help Mr. Guzmán determine whether there is a conflict of interest.
Mexican authorities rushed El Chapo out of the country – likely before the customary negotiations that would normally take place in such a prominent case were completed (emphasis added):
Mr. Guzmán’s lawyers have indicated they may challenge the grounds for his extradition. The extradition proceedings in Mexico were not based on the charges in Brooklyn, and “it was assumed” he would be brought to California or Texas, his lawyers said. Before his removal to the U.S., neither he nor his lawyers in Mexico knew the extradition would occur, according to a court filing.
