New York, USA.- New York Eastern District Court Judge Brian Cogan said he will not allow evidence that Genaro García Luna allegedly bribed the newspaper El Universal to suppress a story about corruption.
Cogan said this has “no probative evidence related to the crime” and that while testimony may show guilt, it may also be a case where bad press was not wanted.
The refusal comes after the defense of the former Secretary of Public Security asked the judge to prohibit the testimony of the alleged bribe paid to the media.
According to a brief presented by García Luna’s lawyers, the testimony, by a person identified as Héctor Villarreal Hernández, sought to be used by the Prosecutor’s Office to present press articles critical of the former police commander and thus influence the jury.
