Congressman Gonzalez Statement on Trump Administration’s Release of Former Mexican Defense Minister

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and representative of a district on the Texas – Mexico border, issued the following statement:

"For the Trump administration, screaming law and order means crying wolf. For Attorney General Barr, justice has always been selective and political. Failing to prosecute General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda in the United States is an insult to the years of hard work by federal agents and prosecutors. Furthermore, it chips away at a deteriorating justice system under a leader who has seriously mismanaged a once independent institution.

American foreign policy cannot be made in the dark. The U.S.-Mexico relationship is rooted in a long history of cooperation on issues of improving citizen security, combatting criminal organizations, and mutual support for the rule of law. Attorney General Barr must provide a clear explanation as to the events that have unfolded and I urge Mexico to administer justice in a fair and transparent manner."

Congressman Gonzalez also signed a joint letter with Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-08), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs for the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade urging Mexico's Attorney General, Dr. Alejandro Gertz Manero to conduct a full investigation in the drug trafficking case against General Salvador Cienfuegos. The letter is available here.