Sean Penn's Secret Interview With Drug Cartel Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Draws Criticism from The U.S. Government

Sean Penn is facing the ire of critics after news surfaced of his secret sit-down interview with Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in October last year. 

According to the BBC News, the seven-hour interview was conducted in an undisclosed location in the Mexican jungle three months after he escaped from prison in July 2015. Guzman and Penn were surrounded by more than 100 cartel troops during the interview, which was published in Rolling Stone on Saturday.

White House spokesman Denis McDonough said the Hollywood actor's "so-called interview" was "maddening," but declined to comment on the possible repercussions imposable on Penn.  Republican Senator Marco Rubio also expressed his concern and described the interview as "grotesque."

As reported by The New York Times, Guzman bragged in the interview that he started out in the business selling sodas and other soft drinks at the age of six. At 15, he started growing marijuana and poppies because he had no other means to feed his impoverished family.

Guzman said unapologetically that he now supplies "more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world."

"I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats," Guzman added.

Although his fortune is estimated at $1 billion, it comes with a trail of blood. However, Guzman does not consider himself violent.

"Look, all I do is defend myself, nothing more," he told Penn. "But do I start trouble? Never."  

Penn's secret interview reportedly helped lead authorities to the boss of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Guzman was captured by marines on Friday in the northwestern city of Los Mochis in his home state of Sinaloa. Reports say five other drug suspects were killed and one marine was wounded during the shootout.

Currently, Guzman detained at the Altiplano Jail, from where he escaped in July through a tunnel system underneath the shower in his cell.

He was charged with smuggling vast amounts of drug into the U.S. 

Meanwhile, Mexico announced it will begin the process of extraditing Guzman to the U.S. in line with requests since 2015.