Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya’s return to office on political grounds while he faces allegations in the United States.
At her daily morning press briefing on Monday, Sheinbaum described Rocha Moya’s decision to return while investigations were ongoing as “imprudent.” She said the matter was not personal and stressed that the interests of the Sinaloa government, the state and the Mexican people should take priority.
Sheinbaum said she had not known in advance that the governor wanted to return to office. Emphasizing that her criticism was political rather than legal, she said the Mexican Attorney General’s Office was responsible for providing information about the ongoing investigations.
U.S. allegations and the murder case
In April, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Rocha Moya and nine current and former Sinaloa officials of alleged ties to the cartel faction known as Los Chapitos. U.S. prosecutors alleged that Rocha Moya conspired with cartel leaders to bring drugs into the United States and received political support and bribes in return. Prosecutors also claimed that cartel members helped secure the governor’s election.
Sheinbaum said the ongoing investigations also cover allegations raised by U.S. authorities about Rocha Moya. The cases include the killing of Héctor Melesio Cuén, the former rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and a former political figure in the state.
Rocha Moya denied the allegations and argued that the U.S. case was politically motivated. Sheinbaum reiterated that the competent authorities should determine any potential criminal liability, but continued to criticize the governor’s return to office on political grounds.
The leave process resumes
Rocha Moya, a member of Morena, first took leave in May after allegations of links to the Sinaloa Cartel emerged. After more than three months of leave, he returned to the governor’s office on Friday and faced criticism from Sheinbaum as well as some members of the ruling Morena party.
The governor requested leave again after remaining in office for less than two days. The Sinaloa State Congress unanimously approved the request on Sunday, and the appointment of an interim governor is expected to be discussed on Monday.
The debate in Sinaloa unfolded as violence linked to a power struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, continued.
