Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum EPA-EFE/Sashanka Gutierrez
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly backed Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of alleged ties to organized crime.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República, known as the Attorney General’s Office, would act under Mexican law if U.S. authorities provide sufficient evidence to justify an arrest warrant against the governor.
“If there is no clear evidence, it is evident that the objective of these accusations by the Department of Justice is political,” Sheinbaum said.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced formal charges Wednesday against 10 current and former Mexican officials, including Rocha Moya, on drug trafficking allegations.
A federal indictment said the suspects had “associated with the Sinaloa Cartel to distribute large quantities of narcotics in the United States.” Prosecutors also accused them of enabling violence and reprisals, including killings, and receiving payments in exchange for their cooperation.
Sheinbaum questioned the strength of the evidence presented by U.S. authorities and said the case so far relies on testimony from unidentified witnesses and documents that she argued lack sufficient support.
“We are not going to protect anyone,” Sheinbaum said. “There must be evidence, documents based on our legislation that demonstrate a person’s guilt.”
She added that even if evidence exists, Mexican law would require impeachment proceedings against a sitting governor before criminal action could move forward.
Sheinbaum also defended Mexico’s sovereignty and criticized what she described as possible foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs.
“We will not allow any foreign government to decide the future of the Mexican people. Truth, justice and the defense of sovereignty. That is our position,” she said.
The president compared the case to that of former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos, who was arrested in the United States in 2020 on alleged drug trafficking charges.
Sheinbaum said Mexican prosecutors reviewed the evidence presented by U.S. authorities at the time and concluded it was insufficient to support the accusations, leading to Cienfuegos’ return and release in Mexico.
She also criticized what she described as an unprecedented attempt by the United States to pursue legal action against sitting Mexican officials.
“This had never happened before,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the possibility of seeking the extradition of a sitting governor.
Rocha Moya, who has governed the northwestern state of Sinaloa since 2021 and belongs to the ruling Morena party, rejected the allegations and described them as a “baseless attack.” He said he spoke directly with Sheinbaum to clarify his situation.
Sheinbaum confirmed the conversation and told the governor that “if there is nothing, there is nothing to fear.”
Rocha Moya could face up to 50 years in prison under the U.S. charges.
