Posted on 12/14/2010 7:39:18 PM PST by Second Amendment First
MEXICO CITY — Despite being a federal fugitive, accused of laundering millions of dollars for one of Mexico’s most ruthless drug cartels, Julio César Godoy says he simply walked into the national legislature here unnoticed in September, right past the cordon of federal police officers watching the building.
He then raised his right arm, swore allegiance to the Mexican Constitution and, 15 months after disappearing from public view, finally claimed the congressional seat he won last year.
It was too late for prosecutors to do much about it. Mr. Godoy’s newly conferred status came with a special perk: immunity from prosecution.
Now, a political saga that underscores the persistent fears of political infiltration by drug cartels and the many frustrations of rooting it out continues to swirl around him.
Mexico’s attorney general has been incensed at Mr. Godoy’s ability to hide in plain sight, while others debate intriguing details in local news reports, like accounts that Mr. Godoy had actually been spirited into the building’s basement garage in another lawmaker’s car.
“It undermined the seriousness of the Chamber of Deputies and the rule of law that he could just show up and take the oath,” said John J. Bailey, a Georgetown University professor who studies organized crime and democracy in Mexico. “The natural reaction was, ‘What is going on here?’ ”
On Tuesday night, the chamber, Mexico’s lower house of Congress, voted overwhelmingly to strip Mr. Godoy of his immunity and legislative duties, a development that could lead to his eventual arrest and trial — if he can be found.
Mr. Godoy has professed his innocence, calling the charges a political vendetta against him by President Felipe Calderón’s governing party. But he was not at Tuesday’s session. His lawyer attended session in his place, leaving Mr. Godoy’s own whereabouts unclear.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Pretty much just like the criminals in the US Congress.
Something tells me he’s immune from lead poisoning.
I guess that's something our government has in common with the Mexican government: US Identity Politics enables millions of Mexican law-breaking fugitives to defang our federal and state laws every day.
I hope it’s as good for them as it’s been for us. Let ‘em suck it up.
Despite being a federal fugitive, accused of laundering millions of dollars for one of Mexico's most ruthless drug cartels, Julio César Godoy says he simply walked into the national legislature here unnoticed in September, right past the cordon of federal police officers watching the building. He then raised his right arm, swore allegiance to the Mexican Constitution and, 15 months after disappearing from public view, finally claimed the congressional seat he won last year....and with it, prosecutorial immunity. Doesn't make him bulletproof, though. Thanks Second Amendment First.
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