Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(61,592 posts)
Sun May 26, 2019, 03:02 PM May 2019

'El Chapo' made an unusual prison request. Authorities fear it's another ploy to escape.

Source: Washington Post

‘El Chapo’ made an unusual prison request. Authorities fear it’s another ploy to escape.

By Deanna Paul May 26 at 12:23 PM

For two and half years, Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has lived in solitary confinement, with nearly no ability to communicate with the outside world.

Now, with Guzman allegedly showing symptoms of “mental fatigue” and “sleep deprivation,” and “daily headaches and ear pain,” his defense team had several requests for U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan earlier this month: two hours of outdoor exercise every week, traditional commissary access, permission to buy six bottles of water a week and earplugs.

"This deprivation of sunlight and fresh air, over an excessive 27-month period, is causing psychological scarring,” the letter said. It called the conditions “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

Federal prosecutors were not convinced.

According to new court filings obtained by The Washington Post, the government opposed all of the above and alleged the request was part of a ploy to escape from prison or silence cooperating witnesses.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/05/25/el-chapo-prosecutors-worry-joaquin-guzman-is-plotting-another-escape/
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'El Chapo' made an unusual prison request. Authorities fear it's another ploy to escape. (Original Post) Eugene May 2019 OP
Psychological scarring. Turbineguy May 2019 #1
Being locked down in solitary confinement and deprived of sensory stimulation... ADX May 2019 #2
I would've given him earplugs and BigmanPigman May 2019 #3
 

ADX

(1,622 posts)
2. Being locked down in solitary confinement and deprived of sensory stimulation...
Sun May 26, 2019, 04:14 PM
May 2019

...over an extended period of time is a far harsher punishment than the death penalty...

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
3. I would've given him earplugs and
Sun May 26, 2019, 05:49 PM
May 2019

told him "Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy Cinco Di Mayo, etc. and that is the only gift you will ever get from us so enjoy!".

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»True Crime»'El Chapo' made an unusua...