Sean Penn meets El Chapo while the latter is on the run

[Blanky]

Pretty big piece of news regarding one of the world's most wanted men.

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/el-chapo-speaks-20160109

Penn met him back in October, had a brief sit down, and an agreement that a full length interview would be held 8 days later. Due to probably security concerns that never happened, so a smaller interview was granted via video by El Chapo--the first he's apparently ever given not in an interrogation room.

Although I'm not a big fan of Penn for various reasons, in this case he made a pretty ballsy move and got an interview nobody else could.

Some people online are clamoring for him to be arrested for various stupid reasons, but Charlie Rose met with Assad last year. Journalists meet nasty people all the time and with this piece there's no deny that is a title fitting Penn.

 

[DrDoug]

I read somewhere that Penn's visit actually led to El Chapo finally being captured (again). Ahhh, here it is!

I wonder if Sean is going to hire someone to start his cars for him from now on...lol!

 

[IronWing]

The Penn is mightier than the sword.

 

[zinfamous]

I read somewhere that Penn's visit actually led to El Chapo finally being captured (again). Ahhh, here it is!

I wonder if Sean is going to hire someone to start his cars for him from now on...lol!

certainly a bad situation for Penn either way--I'm not sure how to square not tipping the authorities if he knew anything about how to find him. He isn't a journalist. the dude is a psychopathic fugitive responsible for countless murders and endless violence in two countries.

I don't think I would have a problem with some manner of charges against him if that is the case....if that is legal. He may be protected from that; I dunno.

That being said, whether or not he tipped off the authorities, he is still a target for the cartel. I would not be sleeping comfortable for the rest of my life, having my name publicly associated with this dude's capture.

In the end, probably best for him to make a statement that he was in no way involved in the operation to capture the fat man.

 

[VRAMdemon]

certainly a bad situation for Penn either way--I'm not sure how to square not tipping the authorities if he knew anything about how to find him. He isn't a journalist. the dude is a psychopathic fugitive responsible for countless murders and endless violence in two countries.

I don't think I would have a problem with some manner of charges against him if that is the case....if that is legal. He may be protected from that; I dunno.

That being said, whether or not he tipped off the authorities, he is still a target for the cartel. I would not be sleeping comfortable for the rest of my life, having my name publicly associated with this dude's capture.

In the end, probably best for him to make a statement that he was in no way involved in the operation to capture the fat man.

Yeah, agreed. I wonder if Penn took into consideration the safety of his ex wife, kids and other family members when he made his decision to do this. Maybe he thinks he is "Teflon Don"

Unless there is a law that requires disclosure of whereabouts if known, not sure there's anything to charge him with. He didn't hide him. Still a dumb move IMO.

I could see the Mexican authorities investigating/charging him, along with the actress who helped set up the interview though.

Interesting note in the interview El Chapo talks about the U.S. corporations that are in cahoots with his business. Sure would be interesting to know who they are.

 

[Jaskalas]

I read somewhere that Penn's visit actually led to El Chapo finally being captured (again). Ahhh, here it is!

I wonder if Sean is going to hire someone to start his cars for him from now on...lol!

The Cartels are def gonna blame Penn for this.

 

[MongGrel]

I guess some people continue to do things with their name in order to stay relevant.

Best of luck to him in the future.

 

[waggy]

stupid thing to do. No matter how good of "friends" you think you are. It's not worth the risk.

 

[Blanky]

I read the entire interview including Sean's sense he was being tracked. El Chapo knew this was possible and went through large security efforts to avoid being chased. I'm not convinced from that reuters article that anything penn did led to el chapo.

It's possible that chapo's desire to get his word out did end up in his being caught, but it's also very possible sean was completely straight forward on his behavior with el chapo and didn't try to deceive him. If it's found out he did deceive him el chapo's kids are not going to be pleased and they could certainly hit him in the US.

I do think he was a journalist. Title is less impressive to me than behavior. I'm genuinely impressed with penn here. And heck if he is an informant yeah that was stupider, but even ballsier than he currently seems to be.

 

[MongGrel]

Hey, even Elvis wanted to be a DEA agent, ya know.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

I read the entire interview including Sean's sense he was being tracked. El Chapo knew this was possible and went through large security efforts to avoid being chased. I'm not convinced from that reuters article that anything penn did led to el chapo.

It's possible that chapo's desire to get his word out did end up in his being caught, but it's also very possible sean was completely straight forward on his behavior with el chapo and didn't try to deceive him. If it's found out he did deceive him el chapo's kids are not going to be pleased and they could certainly hit him in the US.

I do think he was a journalist. Title is less impressive to me than behavior. I'm genuinely impressed with penn here. And heck if he is an informant yeah that was stupider, but even ballsier than he currently seems to be.

Pretty sure Sean Penn is not going to be getting a good night's rest for a very long time as Zin stated. All Chapo's compatriots need is the flimsiest of reasons to decide that maybe they should go ahead and take out Sean (or anyone related to him) just incase he had some direct or indirect responsibility in Chapo's capture. As these aren't the kind of people who are the reasonable types or often prone to logical thinking. He's going to now have to spend some good money on protection and worry about looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life considering the massive drug wealth Chapo has and the ability to just send waves of paid armed killers after Penn if he wants too. So I think Sean is probably regretting his actions right now even if he was doing it for "journalistic" reasons, etc. Pretty sure he would trade that away to remove the lingering threat hanging over his head of being whacked by someone acting on El Chapo's behalf.

 

[pcgeek11]

I would not want to be in Sean Penn's shoes..... dead man walking.

 

[IGBT]

so what do ya think..Penn and other Hollywood idiots will visit ElChapo in the big house?? Bring him girly mag's and chocolates?? Maybe "Funny Girl" can visit with Penn..she can sing him a few songs..maybe this catchy little tune would be nice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZTSuMErgsw

 

[Jhhnn]

Pretty sure Sean Penn is not going to be getting a good night's rest for a very long time as Zin stated. All Chapo's compatriots need is the flimsiest of reasons to decide that maybe they should go ahead and take out Sean (or anyone related to him) just incase he had some direct or indirect responsibility in Chapo's capture. As these aren't the kind of people who are the reasonable types or often prone to logical thinking. He's going to now have to spend some good money on protection and worry about looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life considering the massive drug wealth Chapo has and the ability to just send waves of paid armed killers after Penn if he wants too. So I think Sean is probably regretting his actions right now even if he was doing it for "journalistic" reasons, etc. Pretty sure he would trade that away to remove the lingering threat hanging over his head of being whacked by someone acting on El Chapo's behalf.

There's no way that Penn ratted on Shorty & everybody knows it. Hell- he didn't even know where they were taking him & Shorty knew he'd never go back there afterwards. He didn't tell Penn anything he didn't want to tell, either. He expects Penn to tell all that he knows. That's why he agreed to the interview. Figuring that Penn might have been tracked, her kept it short & cleared out quickly. It was a chance he wanted to take.

His guys know this & they're sure as Hell not going to hit such a high profile target other than on Shorty's orders. It's very bad for business & everybody knows that, too.

 

[Subyman]

So how did the authorities find Chopo and did Penn even have a meaningful involvement or was the interview and arrest coincidence?

 

[werepossum]

Interesting to see that Penn is attracted to evil of all flavors and not just Marxist or Islamist.

 

[Jhhnn]

Interesting to see that Penn is attracted to evil of all flavors and not just Marxist or Islamist.

WTF are you going on about?

 

[sportage]

So, the cops nor the US state department could find this guy?
Then some Hollywood celebrity just calls el chapo up on his cell phone?
No wonder we're losing the war on drugs.
Hey.. Right under your nose, guys.
So, what the heck r u doing?

Penn didn't break any laws, Sean just royally pissed them off. The US government...
Makes one wonder if the conspiracy theories are true, that the US government is in bed with these guys, and wants Americans hooked on drugs?
Drug addiction in the US. It fuels the US legal system, law enforcment, medical, and provides a lot of cold hard cash flowing under the table.
Me thinkist there is much more to the story...

 

[Fenixgoon]

there's an article on CNN about how wrong it was for Penn to meet El Chapo. Really? How is the risk he took any different than that of a person whose day-job is journalism? Oh wait, it's not. He's an adult who understood the risks of doing business with one of the most notorious drug lords in the world. How is this any different than journalists who interview terrorists or other not-so-friendly people?

I'm pretty sure everyone in the journalism and law enforcement world is absolutely livid that an actor managed to score an interview literally no one else in the world could get.

 

[Jhhnn]

there's an article on CNN about how wrong it was for Penn to meet El Chapo. Really? How is the risk he took any different than that of a person whose day-job is journalism? Oh wait, it's not. He's an adult who understood the risks of doing business with one of the most notorious drug lords in the world. How is this any different than journalists who interview terrorists or other not-so-friendly people?

I'm pretty sure everyone in the journalism and law enforcement world is absolutely livid that an actor managed to score an interview literally no one else in the world could get.

Well, yeh, but he's a Leftist! & a Libruhl so anything he does must be attacked.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

there's an article on CNN about how wrong it was for Penn to meet El Chapo. Really? How is the risk he took any different than that of a person whose day-job is journalism? Oh wait, it's not. He's an adult who understood the risks of doing business with one of the most notorious drug lords in the world. How is this any different than journalists who interview terrorists or other not-so-friendly people?

I'm pretty sure everyone in the journalism and law enforcement world is absolutely livid that an actor managed to score an interview literally no one else in the world could get.

I think the difference is a journalist is out there to acquire information and provide it out to the world. Sean Penn isn't exactly a journalist. You and I don't just get to meet Snowden because we feel like it.

As much as you don't like it, journalists do get some extra benefits, which is why media passes are issued for events, and not every average Joe gets that kind of access too.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think the difference is a journalist is out there to acquire information and provide it out to the world. Sean Penn isn't exactly a journalist. You and I don't just get to meet Snowden because we feel like it.

As much as you don't like it, journalists do get some extra benefits, which is why media passes are issued for events, and not every average Joe gets that kind of access too.

So it's all about credentialism? What part of it did Penn not "provide it out to the world"?

Hemmingway, for example, was a helluva reporter & only had a high school diploma.

 

[werepossum]

So it's all about credentialism? What part of it did Penn not "provide it out to the world"?

Hemmingway, for example, was a helluva reporter & only had a high school diploma.

Hey, there's a new tell tale sign of chronic stupidity - credentialism!

Have to file that one next to "cis gendered".

 

[HomerJS]

For everyone coming down on Penn,

Weren't their interviews with Bin Laden after 9/11 but before we took him out?

 

[Victorian Gray]

So it's all about credentialism? What part of it did Penn not "provide it out to the world"?

Hemmingway, for example, was a helluva reporter & only had a high school diploma.

Read the article, this guy is no Hemmingway. It's self indulgence at it's finest.