Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Monday.
The Mexican drug lord said he wants new representation in his American trafficking case.
He is looking to ditch his public defenders and hire private attorneys, including one who previously represented the son of organized crime boss, John Gotti.
Guzman has pleaded not guilty to charges of running a drug trafficking cartel that laundered billions of dollars and oversaw murders and kidnappings.
He has escaped from prison twice in Mexico, and was extradited to the United States in January.