El Chapo trial: Joaquín Guzman joked about arming infant daughter with AK47 in texts to wife, court hears

Zambada described being told by one of his paid informants within law enforcement that authorities were close to capturing Guzman. It was suggested that the cartel should give a $250,000 bribe to a ranking officer, after which, "The operation was aborted. There was no problem," he said. 

The defence has argued that cooperators like Zambada are framing Guzman to win favour from the court in their own criminal cases. On cross-examination Monday, the defence sought to suggest Zambada was minimising his own role in the cartel and exaggerating that of Guzman as a mythical kingpin known for escaping Mexican prisons, when really they say he was in hiding most of his life of crime and not calling the shots. 

Defense attorney William Purpura asked Zambada how it was possible Guzman outranked him when there was evidence Guzman needed to go through him to get his supplies of cocaine. For emphasis, the lawyer pulled down Zambada's mugshot from a lower portion of a cartel organisational chart on display in the courtroom and held it above one of Guzman. 

"How does that look?" the lawyer asked. 

"Fine," the witness said with a smirk before quickly qualifying the answer by adding, "I'm below him." 

Jesus 'El Rey' Zambada is expected to return to the witness stand today.

The transcript of a 20-minute sidebar conversation will remain sealed, and the government’s motion attempting to preclude Jesus Zambada Garcia’s testimony will also remain redacted. 

In case you missed it yesterday, key witness Jesus 'El Rey' Zamabada claimed Guzman ordered the murder of a man who had refused to shake his hand at a meeting.

Guzman had ordered Rodolfo Carrillo, a member of the rival Juarez cartel and brother of its leader, killed after he declined to shake Guzman's hand at a meeting, Zambada said. The 2004 killing, according to Zambada, fuelled a turf war between the cartels.

The judge presiding over the Chapo trial is limiting evidence surrounding a cartel insider’s testimony in order to protect "individuals and entities who are not parties to the case and who would face embarrassment and harassment."

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo will not be testifying in Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman’s trial. The celebrity made international headlines when she met the drug lord in 2016. He had contacted her through his lawyers, providing her rights to tell his life story.

Jesus Zambada Garcia has testified the Sinaloa cartel had planned the murdering of Deputy Prosecutor José Luis Vasconcelos — High Command of PGR — “for not cooperating.” 

According to Mr Garcia, the cartel wanted to kill the deputy prosecutor because he didn’t want to receive bribes. 

Reporters have sent a letter to the judge urging transparency after files remained sealed in court this morning that could be related to bribes possibly linked to Mexican presidents.

One important theme surrounding Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman’s trial is the apparent lack of transparency in court activity. 

Reporter Keegan Hamilton wrote the following on Twitter today from the court room: “This ruling is yet another example of the incredible level secrecy surrounding this case. There have been dozens of documents filed under seal, along with at least 13 secret letters sent by the prosecution to the judge to justify secrecy and security measures.”