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El Chapo' Guzman's Lawyer Accuses Sean Penn of Lying in His 'Report' on Cartel Boss
U.S. actor-activist Sean Penn talks to reporters outside his hotel during his visit to Tripoli, Libya Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. n Penn says he admires Libyans for their courage in overthrowing Moammar Gadhafi. (AP Photo/Abdel Magid al Fergany)

El Chapo' Guzman's Lawyer Accuses Sean Penn of Lying in His 'Report' on Cartel Boss

"Mr. Guzman is a very serious man, very intelligent..."

Actor Sean Penn lied when he reported that Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman boasted to him about his drug shipments and money laundering in an article published Saturday, one of Guzman's lawyers claimed Wednesday.

Guzman's lawyer, Juan Pablo Badillo, stated that he believed Penn should be called to testify in the trial because of the specific quotes the actor published in his article following his interview with Guzman and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo.

According to Reuters, Badillo's chief complaint against Penn comes from a quote that the actor attributed to Guzman: "I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats."

"It's a lie, absurd speculation from Mr. Penn," Badillo told Reuters.

Badillo also claimed that Guzman would never utter such a self-incriminating statement during an interview.

"In a way, yes, it does complicate it [Guzman's defense]. Mr Penn should be called to testify to respond about the stupidities he has said," Badillo told Reuters."[Guzman] could not have made these claims. ... Mr. Guzman is a very serious man, very intelligent. ... Where's the proof? Where's the audio?"

Penn has said that he was not allowed to record the interview with Guzman and Castillo, although Guzman later sent Penn a video containing further answers to the actor's questions when a follow-up interview could not be arranged in person, Reuters reported. This video footage, however, did not contain the disputed quote.

Since his capture Friday, Guzman has been held at the Altiplano prison in Almoloya de Juarez, where he is being moved continually from cell to cell in order to avoid a second escape, according to CNN. Mexico intends extradite Guzman to the U.S. to face his drug-trafficking charges in association with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Both Penn and Castillo are facing further investigations into their interviews with Guzman, according to CNN, although Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez has said that the interview was "essential" in the process of recapturing the Mexican kingpin.

Follow Kathryn Blackhurst (@kablackhurst) on Twitter

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