El Chapo's trial sees 27 jurors dismissed — some for the most bizarre reasons

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November 8, 2018 3:57 PM

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman will be tried by jury, but some jurors had excuses to do with a bagel, Michael Jackson, and one who wanted an autograph.

indictment
pleaded not guilty

A 12-person jury has been confirmed for the trial of drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman — but 27 out of the 60 potential jurors had to be dismissed, some for bizarre reasons.

US District Judge Brian Cogan is overseeing jury selection, and made public why people had been dismissed during selection which lasted from Monday to Wednesday.

One man, who reportedly asked the court clerk to help him get El Chapo's autograph, was dismissed on Monday because he admitted: "I'm a bit of a fan."

Just before he was sent packing, El Chapo's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, asked prosecutors to let the man join the jury, regardless of wanting an autograph, Reuters said.

Lichtman's justification was: "I have the autograph of Charles Manson, and the two leaders of Hamas, and obviously I'm not a big fan of them," the news agency reported.

Another man up for selection was sent home as he told the court he often ordered a bagel sandwich called the "El Chapo" at his local deli, CNN reported.

Another of the 27 potential jurors dismissed was let go because he was a Michael Jackson impersonator, Reuters reported, which Judge Cogan though may allow people to identify him.

Several people were rejected for more serious reasons, because they were scared, CNN said.

This included one woman, who read a news report saying El Chapo had promised not to kill jurors and it had made her anxious about being on the jury, according to Reuters.

A Justice Department summary document about the case, calls El Chapo: "The most notorious drug trafficker in the world."

The seven women and five men on the jury are to remain anonymous throughout the case, which could last four months, Associated Press reported.

Nearly

El Chapo is the leader of the Mexican "Sinaloa Cartel," and was extradited to the United States from Mexico on January 19, 2017, after he busted out of two Mexican prisons, and was captured again.

He faces 17 counts in his indictment, including "participating in an international conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana."

He pleaded not guilty in January 2017. Opening statements will be read on Monday.

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