April 24, 2001

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK

BANCO NACIONAL de MÉXICO, S.A.

Plaintiff,

v.

Index No. 00603429

MARIO RENATO MENÉNDEZ RODRIGUEZ,
AL GIORDANO, and
THE NARCO NEWS BULLETIN,

Defendants.
____________________________________________

AFFIDAVIT OF AL GIORDANO

Al Giordano, being duly sworn depose and say:

1. I am a freelance reporter.

2. I have no office in New York.

3. I have no employees or agents in New York or elsewhere.

4. I do not have any access to the use of any real property in New York.

5. Narco News Bulletin has no regular source of support.

6. If this case were allowed to proceed in New York state, it would be extremely difficult for me to adequately represent myself, given the following facts:

(a) I do not have sufficient funds to hire counsel.

(b) I have been forced to represent myself.

(c) I would have to travel from Mexico to New York to attend depositions, court conferences and other proceedings in the case. In doing so, I would incur significant expenses which I cannot afford (including air fare, lodging and meal costs).

(d) To the best of my knowledge none of the witnesses with information in this case live in New York.

(e) To the best of my knowledge all of the witnesses who have information in this case live in Mexico.

(f) None of the documents relevant to the case are in New York.

(g) None of the evidence relevant to the case is in New York.

8. The primary witnesses and persons to be deposed in this case will be Mexican nationals. I do not know if they will be subject to subpoena for this New York proceeding.

9. The following paragraph was posted on the website www.narconews.com during the relevant time period:

The Narco News Bulletin works to tell the truth. We call it as we see it. Yet we are conscious that it's our truth. The whole truth can only be constructed by the participation of the people. Thus, we strive to work together, to collaborate, with your truth and the truths of others, "To make a bigger truth."

We invite your comments, corrections, criticisms, news tips and participation (as well as your nominations for Narco-of-the-Month and Hero-of-the-Month). We especially seek volunteer translators to make this site available in Spanish, Portuguese, French and other languages. Narco News accepts letters from our readers. Contact us with your truth at: narconews@hotmail.com.

10. A review of the audiotape of the broadcast indicates:

(a) The WBAI interview lasted for approximately two hours. It began at 1:30 A.M. An audiotape of the interview received from WBAI is attached as Exhibit A.

(b) The topics covered during the WBAI interview included: United States drug policy, Mexican drug policy, ethics in the media, freedom of the press, prosecution of the press, the biography of Mario Menendez, official governmental corruption and presidents of the United States and Mexico.

(c) The comments made at Columbia Law School took place during a panel discussion. The panelists were Judge Jerome W. Marks, retired New York state Supreme Court justice; Anthony Papa, artist and former prisoner under Rockefeller drug laws; Mario Menendez; Winifred Tate, analyst, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). I was the moderator. The topics discussed included: the Rockefeller drug laws, Plan Columbia, organized crime, government corruption and legalization of drugs. The videotape of the panel discussion taken by the Menendez family is attached as Exhibit B. (The last portion of the panel discussion is not included because the tape ended before it finished.)

11. I have reviewed Exhibits A and B. The facts set forth in the Facts section of my memorandum in support of my motion to dismiss are based on my review of those exhibits and are true as to what is depicted and contained therein.

12. In May 1999, I had written an article published in the Boston Phoenix on May 14, 1999 which discussed the same allegedly defamatory facts that I discussed in New York in March 2000. A true and accurate copy of the article is attached as Exhibit C.

13. During my talks at Columbia and on WBAI, I did not mention www.narconews.com, Narco News Bulletin.

14. I made no attempt to raise money for the website during my trip to New York.

Dated: April 24, 2001

___________________________
Al Giordano

This affidavit and accompanying exhibits are offered to the Court in support of:

Motion to Dismiss by The Narco News Bulletin

Motion to Dismiss by Al Giordano

And are filed together with:

Affidavit by Al Giordano concerning The Narco News Bulletin

Affidavit by Karen Thatcher concerning Banamex "Agency" in New York

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