With Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán Loera scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, a Florida congressman is doubling down on his call to take billions of his assets -- seized by the federal government -- and use them to build a wall on the southern border.
Back in February, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., one of the co-chairmen of the Florida delegation, said he was sponsoring a proposal from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., to “allow billions of dollars’ worth of assets" seized from Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ to help secure America's border with Mexico.” Buchanan, who sits on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, backed “Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act” which “would set aside money forfeited to the U.S. government from 'El Chapo' and other convicted drug lords to be used for increased security along the U.S.-Mexico border.”
“Guzman’s drug empire amassed an estimated $14 billion from narcotic sales responsible for destroying the lives of millions of Americans,” Buchanan said when he threw his support behind the proposal. “As President Trump looks to secure the southern border, Congress should pass this commonsense measure to use seized drug money to staunch the flow of drugs and violence into our communities.”
Buchanan doubled down on that position on Monday.
“Tomorrow, El Chapo faces life in prison for his crimes,” Buchanan said. “Guzman’s drug empire amassed an estimated $14 billion from narcotic sales responsible for destroying the lives of countless Americans. As President Trump looks to secure the southern border, Congress should pass this commonsense measure to use seized drug money to stanch the flow of drugs and violence into our communities.”
Back in February, Guzmán was found guilty of ten federal criminal charges ranging from weapons violations to drug trafficking. He will be sentenced on Tuesday with the fate of his $14 billion still undecided.
Buchanan isn’t the only congressman from the Sunshine State backing the bill. Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz, Bill Posey, Dan Webster and Ted Yoho are also sponsoring the proposal, which is before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. Cruz has picked up four cosponsors.
