El Chapo Trial: Emma's interview, "I am a normal person"

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat Op-Ed

Inset Emma at 17

I wasn’t interested in watching this Telemundo interview with Emma Coronel, the wife of El Chapo.

But I was encouraged to do so, told it was informative.  I still feel these interviews are more self-serving at this point and probably surfaced because of the negative press attributed to Coronel, and the window to humanize her husband, at any level, slammed shut when the trial began.  She was to conduct interviews in October.  She decided not to do interviews. 

And she is an excellent interview.  She artfully dodges delicate questions, answers others with grace and good articulation.  She is warmly guarded, beams when speaking about her 7 year old twin daughters, and does humanize her husband in a way that others can’t. 

Her interview was not without missteps, nothing a little more prep and small adjustments wouldn’t have secured.

For example; the question about the Instagram account, attributed to her.  The account is bursting with photos of an opulent lifestyle and that infamous Barbie Birthday party for her twins.

As I previously reported, she says the IG account is not hers; at this point she gives an impression of being self-righteousness and entitled.  Her tone changes slightly.  She says “there is an investigation”, being conducted.  

What?  If so, Mexico could quickly discover the person behind the catfish account. Catfishing is an epidemic.  The act of using catfish accounts as a hoax on social media, pretending to be someone else, and public people are heavily targeted.  The former and current president of Mexico and just about every other country, including the U.S. have been catfished.  A sign of the times.   Yet for Emma Coronel, there is a special investigation.

Her best defense would have simply stated it is not hers, and that it is something commonly happening to high profile people.

The other misstep was about where her money is derived from.  She should have been prepared.  At a time where her husband says there is no money for attorneys, she says she has her own money and is hazy in describing those points of income.  She finally says it is from “my father”.  Surely assets from Inez Coronel Barreras, can’t be pristine.

Mexican Federal Police arrested Coronel Barreras, his son Inés Omar Coronel Aispuro, and three other people at a warehouse in Agua Prieta, Sonora. Seized were automatic weapons, at least 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of marijuana in the 2013 arrest. Coronel Barreras coordinated drug trafficking shipments for the Sinaloa Cartel from Mexico through the Arizona border crossing; he played an important role in the overall operations of Chapo. 

She contends she has been investigated, and found clean.

She comes off as a solid supporter of her husband, says she has faith in the system, and future, and bottom line she wants everyone to know she is just a “normal person”.

Overall I give her interview an A- good job, with a few exceptions.

Notable Topics:

She is the only person that can attend the trial, she doesn’t give details.

She says she can’t say if she can attend every day

Of course it bothers her when witnesses say bad things about Joaquin, because she knows the opposite to be true.

She talks about the denied court hug

Says Cooperative Witnesses will say anything that benefits them as they are facing life sentences

She is asked and answers about “Cell-Gate”

Did not want to discuss the song 'Un Puño De Tierra' that CW pilot says was played as a threat against him.   She says the song that reminds her of Joaquin the most is ‘Cruzando Cerros y Arroyas’ [crossing hills and streams] She says Joaquin likes all genres of music.

She has never feared for her safety

In New York, rarely is she recognized

She never saw anything unusual [illegal activity] and blames the media for his reputation from the hype.  On the other hand Chapo likes the media pressure to assure transparency.

The twins lead a normal life and adore their father

AMLO: hoping he brings peace

She has not watched Narcos or any series

She doesn’t know about Chapo giving Kate Castillo rights to his story.  She warns if there is a project, Castillo must speak to her.

Defense attorneys are doing an amazing job at discrediting and refuting testimony from CWs

After the trial she just wants peace, somewhere where she can live as everyone else---normally.