Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed disapproval of Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya’s decision to resume his position following an extended absence. The 77-year-old official had stepped down for 112 days after facing US drug-trafficking charges but returned to office for a single day before requesting another indefinite leave of absence. Sheinbaum stated she had no advance knowledge of his return and indicated she had not spoken with him regarding the matter.
Rocha’s brief reinstatement drew criticism not only from the president but also from his own Morena party, of which Sheinbaum is a member. Party leadership asserted they were unaware of his plans to return, characterizing it as a personal decision. The Morena Senate bloc called for restraint and respect during the investigation, while governors from the party issued a joint statement emphasizing that individual political interests cannot supersede national concerns. Sheinbaum separately warned that no personal interest should come before the people and nation, stating that public servants must understand positions are temporary but responsibility to the nation is permanent.
Rocha faces allegations stemming from a US federal indictment that charged him with bribery and conspiracy with a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Prosecutors allege cartel members assisted his 2021 election campaign through intimidation of opposition candidates and ballot tampering. The governor has denied all charges, characterizing them as politically motivated attacks. The indictment also targeted nine other Mexican officials and businessmen, creating diplomatic tensions between the US and Mexican governments regarding prosecution jurisdiction and extradition.
The situation reflects broader US-Mexico relations under the current Trump administration, which has intensified focus on transnational crime organizations and threatened potential military action. The Sinaloa state legislature is expected to appoint an interim governor during the current crisis. Questions persist among Mexican legal scholars concerning whether Rocha’s leave of absence strips him of constitutional immunity during the investigation.
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