Nothing to hide over interview with drug lord, Penn says


Associated Press

MEXICO CITY

Actor Sean Penn said he has “nothin’ to hide,” after images published Monday indicated he was under surveillance when he met with the Mexican actress who led him to Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman – and the pair was apparently followed and photographed as they set out for the supposedly secret meeting with the drug lord.

In a brief email exchange with The Associated Press, Penn also dismissed criticism over his interview with the fugitive, who was captured Friday, a day before Penn’s 10,000-word story was published in Rolling Stone magazine.

Mexican officials have said that contacts between Guzman’s lawyers and Penn and actress Kate del Castillo helped them track down the fugitive, and they raided his hideout in rural Durango state a few days after their Oct. 2 meeting. Guzman evaded authorities then, but was finally captured after a shootout Friday in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa.

Penn wrote in the Rolling Stone article of elaborate security precautions, including switching phones. As he flew to Mexico for the meeting, he wrote, “I see no spying eyes, but I assume they are there.”

He was right – and they apparently had been following del Castillo for months based on contacts with Guzman’s lawyers.

The Mexican newspaper El Universal published 10 images Monday that appeared to show Penn being monitored as he arrived in Mexico.

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