Mexican official accused by U.S. of drug trafficking abruptly resigns again

The governor of a Mexican state who is wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges abruptly stepped down from his role, one day after returning to office.

Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha Moya said in a social media post on Friday that he was resuming leadership of the northwestern state, a role he stepped away from in May to face an investigation by Mexican prosecutors. On Saturday, less than a day later, he shared a document on X asking the state congress to authorize "a temporary leave of absence of indefinite duration, exceeding 30 days."

Rocha Moya's announcement on Friday drew criticism from President Claudia Sheinbaum, the leader of his party, who said Saturday that "no personal interest can ever be placed above the interests of the people" and of Mexico, without explicitly naming anyone in her X post.

"Power without principles becomes arrogance; power without limits, abuse."

When journalists questioned her about Rocha, the leftist leader referred them to her post.

"I found out through his tweet," Sheinbaum told reporters of his return to his job. "I just put out a post on X; that's all I have to say."

The U.S. Justice Department charged Rocha and nine other officials of the ruling Morena party in April. It demanded their extradition for allegedly colluding with the infamous Sinaloa Cartel to distribute drugs inside the U.S. It was the first time the U.S. had publicly charged a sitting Mexican politician.

Rocha on Friday insisted he had "committed no crime" and was returning to office "with a clear conscience and head held high."

The 77-year-old is an ally of Sheinbaum and very close to her mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He has been governor of the northwestern state of Sinaloa since 2021.

The governor was embroiled in a scandal in 2023 involving the Sinaloa cartel, in which his name was published in a letter written by a then-Sinaloa cartel capo whom leaders of a rival faction of the cartel had kidnapped. The cartel capo was handed off to law enforcement in the U.S. The capo said in the letter that when he was kidnapped, he believed he was on his way to meet with Rocha Moya.

Rocha Moya faces federal charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, along with another conspiracy count. If convicted, he could face life in prison or a mandatory minimum of 40 years behind bars.

Using the threat of tariffs, U.S. President Trump is demanding that Mexico redouble its efforts in the war on drugs.

The Republican frequently claims Mexico is governed by politicians linked to drug trafficking and has offered military support to Sheinbaum, who has rejected any such intervention.

The Sinaloa cartel is one of six Mexican narcotrafficking groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.