El Chapo Attorneys File For Retrial After Juror Interview

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman's lawyers demanded a retrial Tuesday, arguing that jurors "scorned" the judge by following the case on Twitter and lying about it, court records show.

The convicted drug kingpin's attorneys filed their retrial request in Brooklyn federal court weeks after an unidentified juror told VICE News almost half of the jury disregarded the rules, records show.

Lawyers Marc Fernich and Jeffrey Lichtman demanded an evidentiary hearing to debate whether jurors' access to news meant "El Chapo" did not receive a fair trial.

Attorneys cited reports on unsealed documents, never presented at trial, that allege El Chapo and his right-hand man molested children Guzman referred to as "vitamins" because he said they gave him life.

"Panel members actively sought out and openly discussed the most sensational extrinsic information,"the motion reads, "including vile allegations that the defendant raped young girls."

By reading the news, jurors were "overtly defying the Court’s perpetual injunctions and cannily lying to Your Honor when asked about it," attorneys argued.

Guzman, 61, was convicted on counts of operating a criminal enterprise and conspiring to import and distribute cocaine and heroin in Brooklyn federal court in February.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on the filings.