MEXICO CITY - A radio station broadcast what it described as a telephone conversation in which a federal lawmaker and one of Mexico's biggest drug lords express support for each other.
W Radio said the alleged conversation took place last year between lawmaker Cesar Godoy Toscano and La Familia cartel leader Servando Gomez, known as "La Tuta." In it, Godoy and Gomez express support for each other and discuss bribing a reporter.
Godoy represents the western state of Michoacan, La Familia's stronghold. He already faces federal charges for allegedly protecting the cartel but has immunity from arrest because he is a congressman.
He was one of 36 people in Michoacan - including politicians, mayors, prosecutors, police and judges - accused last year of ties to La Familia, known for beheading rivals and bold attacks on soldiers and police.
W Radio said the conversation was included among evidence federal prosecutors sent to Congress in a petition to have Godoy's immunity lifted. The station did not say how it obtained the recording.
Officials at the Attorney General's Office refused to confirm or deny the authenticity of the recording.
The press office at Mexico's lower house of Congress said Godoy would not comment. The lawmaker, of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, has previously proclaimed his innocence.
In the recording, a man identified by W Radio as Gomez expresses support for Godoy and certainty that he will win the election.
"Buddy, first of all I want you to win. You can count on full support, you are going to win," the voice says.
The conversation also mentions an unidentified Mexican reporter in the pay of La Familia. The man identified as Godoy expresses his annoyance that the reporter published articles critical of his party and asks Gomez to do something about it.
Godoy - half brother of Michoacan Gov. Leonel Godoy - was the only one of the 36 suspects who escaped arrest in the sweep last year.
A chummy chat between lawmaker, drug lord
W Radio said the alleged conversation took place last year between lawmaker Cesar Godoy Toscano and La Familia cartel leader Servando Gomez, known as "La Tuta." In it, Godoy and Gomez express support for each other and discuss bribing a reporter.
Godoy represents the western state of Michoacan, La Familia's stronghold. He already faces federal charges for allegedly protecting the cartel but has immunity from arrest because he is a congressman.
He was one of 36 people in Michoacan - including politicians, mayors, prosecutors, police and judges - accused last year of ties to La Familia, known for beheading rivals and bold attacks on soldiers and police.
W Radio said the conversation was included among evidence federal prosecutors sent to Congress in a petition to have Godoy's immunity lifted. The station did not say how it obtained the recording.
Officials at the Attorney General's Office refused to confirm or deny the authenticity of the recording.
The press office at Mexico's lower house of Congress said Godoy would not comment. The lawmaker, of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, has previously proclaimed his innocence.
In the recording, a man identified by W Radio as Gomez expresses support for Godoy and certainty that he will win the election.
"Buddy, first of all I want you to win. You can count on full support, you are going to win," the voice says.
The conversation also mentions an unidentified Mexican reporter in the pay of La Familia. The man identified as Godoy expresses his annoyance that the reporter published articles critical of his party and asks Gomez to do something about it.
Godoy - half brother of Michoacan Gov. Leonel Godoy - was the only one of the 36 suspects who escaped arrest in the sweep last year.
A chummy chat between lawmaker, drug lord
