Sinaloa is facing an institutional crisis following accusations from the United States government against Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Senator Enrique Inzunza regarding alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel. The situation has led Rocha Moya to request a leave of absence from his position, leaving the state administration in the hands of an interim governor.
The U.S. Department of Justice singled out both officials for alleged bribe payments originating from organized crime. In response, Morena Senator Enrique Inzunza stated this Saturday, May 2, that he will remain in office to defend his integrity.
“I firmly reject the slander and the disgrace that they are attempting to subject me to through false and malicious imputations,” Inzunza posted on social media, as reported by El Financiero.
The legislator maintained that his decision to stay is rooted in his opposition to the involvement of U.S. security operations on Mexican soil. Furthermore, he stated he will use his position in the Senate to refute what he described as "falsehoods."
Gubernatorial Transition and Official Support
Meanwhile, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya requested leave two days after the allegations surfaced. The Sinaloa Congress has already approved the request and sworn in Yeraldine Bonilla as interim governor.
Rocha Moya stated that his decision aims to avoid obstructing investigations by the Attorney General's Office (FGR), which has demanded concrete evidence from the U.S. government. “My conscience is clear. I say this clearly and emphatically: the accusations leveled against me are false and malicious,” the outgoing governor declared, according to El Financiero.
Interim Governor Yeraldine Bonilla used her inauguration speech to back Rocha Moya's stance. Bonilla, who has a background in the state's Public Security Secretariat, asserted that the people of Sinaloa know the truth behind the allegations.
“The vast majority of the people of Sinaloa know that these accusations are false,” Bonilla maintained during her presentation at the state Congress, as reported by El Financiero.
Opposition Reactions and Claims of Foreign Interference
The case has sparked reactions within the federal legislature. Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña used his digital platforms to mock the alleged strength of the evidence presented by the United States.
During one of his broadcasts, Noroahnya ironically presented an image he called "brutal evidence" to demonstrate his skepticism regarding the accusations against the Morena senator. The legislator also linked the case to a purported attempt by the United States to interfere in national affairs.
“There is a clear pattern of interference!” Noroña stated, comparing the situation to other international conflicts. The senator also took the opportunity to criticize the Governor of Chihuahua, Maru Campos, questioning why she has not requested leave following incidents related to security operations in her state, according to Quadratín Michoacán.
