Background on César Duarte Jáquez
César Horacio Duarte Jáquez is a former governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. His tenure was marked by allegations of financial misconduct and embezzlement of public funds. After leaving office, he faced accusations from his successor, Javier Corral Jurado, and the Chihuahua state government regarding the acquisition of 50 properties in the United States worth approximately $25 million, allegedly obtained through public fund diversion.
The Civil Lawsuit
Javier Corral Jurado, the current Chihuahua attorney general, and the state government initiated a civil lawsuit against Duarte Jáquez in an El Paso, Texas court. The plaintiffs claimed that Duarte Jáquez had illegally acquired the properties using embezzled public funds. However, Judge Rubén Morales ruled in favor of Duarte Jáquez and his son, César Adrián Duarte, stating that insufficient evidence supported the accusations.
Judge’s Decision
In his ruling, Judge Morales granted the Traditional Motion and Motion for No-Evidence Summary Judgment in favor of Duarte Jáquez and his son. The judge determined that the provided evidence did not substantiate the claims made by the plaintiffs.
Reactions and Consequences
Duarte Jáquez celebrated the court’s decision, claiming that the lawsuit was part of a political persecution campaign orchestrated by Corral. He stated, “This confirms what we have always said: it was a politically motivated persecution disguised as justice, and it will have legal consequences in Mexico and the United States.”
Furthermore, Javier Corral will be responsible for covering the legal fees and attorney costs associated with the judicial process.
Omission Accusation
Corral denied that the accusation was a personal act and asserted that it was the Chihuahua state government, during his administration, that filed the lawsuit. He blamed the current governor, María Eugenia Campos Galván, and her cabinet for failing to respond to the legal team’s requests, which hindered their ability to present necessary evidence in the US court.
“The dismissal of the 50-property claim by American authorities does not mean that these properties do not exist; rather, it is because the state government, now led by María Eugenia Campos, failed to address the evidence requests,” Corral wrote on social media.
Legal Firm’s Payment Structure
Duarte Jáquez clarified that the legal services provided by Buzbee did not use public funds, as the attorney’s fees would only be covered if the illicitly acquired assets were recovered.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the lawsuit about? The civil lawsuit accused César Duarte Jáquez of acquiring 50 properties in the United States worth approximately $25 million through embezzlement of public funds during his time as governor of Chihuahua.
- Who initiated the lawsuit? The lawsuit was filed by Javier Corral Jurado, the current Chihuahua attorney general, and the Chihuahua state government.
- What was the court’s decision? The El Paso, Texas court ruled in favor of César Duarte Jáquez and his son, stating that insufficient evidence supported the accusations.
- How did Duarte Jáquez react to the decision? Duarte Jáquez celebrated the court’s decision, claiming that the lawsuit was part of a politically motivated persecution campaign orchestrated by Corral.
- Who is responsible for legal fees? Javier Corral will be responsible for covering the legal fees and attorney costs associated with the judicial process.
- Why were evidence requests not addressed? Javier Corral blamed the current governor, María Eugenia Campos Galván, and her cabinet for failing to respond to the legal team’s requests, which hindered their ability to present necessary evidence in the US court.
