El Chapo on menu

Jury selection began yesterday for the US trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman with potential jurors, including a self-described professional Michael Jackson impersonator, quizzed about how much they knew about Guzman’s reputation as a ruthless drug lord in Mexico. Most of the would-be jurors questioned at the outset said Guzman’s name “sounded familiar” to them. One potential juror was excused after she indicated the case made her feel unsafe. Another was sent home after she said she couldn’t be impartial, saying, “I feel very bad about drugs.” One man mentioned that a local deli near where he works serves a bagel sandwich with a name that was a reminder of Guzman. “I don’t know why it’s called the El Chapo,” he said. “But it’s delicious.” Prosecutors expressed some concern that the identity of the Michael Jackson impersonator couldn’t be kept secret because there are so few people in his profession. Both he and the sandwich-lover were kept in the jury pool for the time being.