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VICE News

VICE News Talked to El Chapo's Lawyer About Defending a Notorious Drug Lord

Legendary New York criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman spoke about the challenges of defending a notorious kingpin.

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is due back in court Monday, and the top item on the agenda will be deciding who gets to defend the accused Mexican drug lord when his trial begins in April.

Right now, the Sinaloa Cartel leader is still officially represented by public defenders—attorneys appointed by the court for people who can't afford them. That means even though Chapo's net worth has been estimated at more than $1 billion, US taxpayers have been footing the bill for his legal defense since his extradition from Mexico to New York in January.

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