Zachary Margulis, a reporter covering the gubernatorial campaign for an English-language daily, The Mexico City News, obtained a copy of the DEA report and tried to publish the story just days before the election. Executives at the News-run by Romulo O’Farrill, a close friend of Bartlett-killed it and ordered him not to write about Bartlett.
In the 1990 DEA report, obtained by NEWSWEEK, an agency informant stated that the 1984 murder of the journalist was “carried out on the orders of Bartlett Diaz,” then interior minister. The report identifies the journalist as “FNU [for full name unknown] Velasco” probably a misspelling of Javier Juarez Vazquez, a Veracruz-based reporter.
Bartlett’s name also came up during the 1990 trial of four Mexicans charged with helping to arrange Camarena’s death. A DEA informant testified Camarena was killed because he was “causing trouble” for Bartlett. Convictions were overturned for two defendants, who face new trials. No action was taken against Bartlett.
Bartlett declined to comment on the allegations. He referred NEWSWEEK to a 1990 Mexican attorney general’s statement calling the DEA informants’ charges “irresponsible, false and libelous.” O’Farrill didn’t respond to repeated phone calls. The DEA wouldn’t confirm or deny the report.
