Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya requested a temporary leave of absence on Friday, May 1, following accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice linking him, along with nine other Mexican officials and former officials, to the Sinaloa Cartel. The State Congress approved the request on Saturday, May 2, allowing the governor to step away from his duties for a 30-day period.
“I have a clear conscience. I say this clearly and emphatically: the accusations made against me are false and malicious,” Rocha Moya stated in a message shared on his social media accounts. The governor, who had dismissed the idea of resigning just a day earlier, maintained that his decision stems from a “republican conviction” to avoid obstructing the investigation launched by the Attorney General's Office (FGR).
Minutes after the governor's announcement, Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil also requested a temporary leave of more than ten days. The capital city's council approved the Morena party official's departure during an extraordinary session held in his absence, appointing the municipal attorney, Ana Miriam Ramos Villarreal, as his replacement.
During the session, PRI councilwoman Erika Sánchez criticized the mayor for not having the courage to appear before the council in person. Following the session, the newly appointed acting mayor, Ramos Villarreal, confirmed that the move was a direct response to the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigations into the mayor's alleged links to the “Los Chapitos” faction.
President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo addressed the case during her morning press conference on Saturday, emphasizing that the presumption of innocence must prevail in Mexico. “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That is how justice works in Mexico,” the President declared, underscoring that any foreign allegations must be supported by evidence within the national legal framework.
Sheinbaum Pardo rejected external pressure on the country's judicial sovereignty and reiterated that it is up to the FGR to conduct the necessary analysis. “It is the prosecutor's office that must perform the analysis, review the evidence, and, if necessary, request further proof. It is as simple as that,” the President noted.
The opposition has labeled these measures as insufficient given the magnitude of the crisis. Jorge Álvarez Máynez of Movimiento Ciudadano noted on social media that “the leave of absence is a step, but it is not enough,” arguing that as long as officials retain their legal immunity, impunity will persist, and he demanded that those involved be stripped of their immunity.
Meanwhile, the PRI leadership in Sinaloa warned that the request for leave “confirms that the crisis is real and of great magnitude.” The party demanded that the process not be limited to a temporary separation, calling for transparency and accountability regarding exactly who is involved and the extent of their responsibilities within the state.
The FGR has maintained that, so far, there is insufficient evidence to proceed with arrests against the accused officials. The institution has formally requested that the United States government provide more information and the evidence supporting its allegations to continue with the ongoing investigations.
