Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya has reversed his decision to return to his post, agreeing to an indefinite leave of absence following significant backlash from his own ruling Morena party. The reversal came about a day and a half after he announced his return, asserting that Mexican prosecutors had cleared him of drug trafficking charges.
The rapid about-face underscores the influence of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has navigated a delicate balance between U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for action against cartels and her party's aversion to foreign intervention.
Rocha Moya had been on leave since early May, days after U.S. prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment accusing him and nine other officials of protecting Sinaloa cartel members in exchange for bribes. The indictment alleged these officials facilitated the trafficking of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States. This action marked a significant move by the Trump administration against official corruption linked to Mexico's cartels, creating new tensions between the two governments.
Upon his attempted return Friday, Rocha Moya cited a finding by Mexico's Attorney General's Office that there was "no evidence to support our participation in any criminal conduct." He declared he was back "as governor of Sinaloa with my head held high."
However, his return unleashed a wave of criticism from Morena governors, senators, and other prominent party figures, including President Sheinbaum. She wrote on social media that "No personal interest can ever come before the interests of the people and the nation," adding that "Mexico deserves public servants who understand that positions are temporary, but responsibility to the nation is eternal."
The party's national leadership stated they had no prior knowledge of Rocha Moya's return, describing it as his "personal decision." The Morena Senate bloc called for respect for the ongoing investigation, and Morena governors issued a joint statement emphasizing that "personal or group political projects have no place" when national interests are at stake.
Ricardo Monreal, Morena's leader in the Chamber of Deputies and a longtime ally of Rocha Moya, publicly urged the governor to reconsider his return and remain on leave. This coordinated party response led to Rocha Moya's isolation.
Later on Saturday, Rocha Moya announced he had asked the state legislature to allow him to step aside indefinitely, stating, "Sinaloa, the nation and the transformation movement come first."
Rocha Moya, 77, a close ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has denied all wrongdoing and characterized the U.S. charges as a politically motivated attack. He initially took leave to cooperate with the Mexican investigation, a move that some legal scholars debated whether it stripped him of his constitutional immunity. The impact of his latest indefinite leave on his immunity remains a subject of legal discussion.
Following the indictment, the mayor of Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, and the state's deputy attorney general also resigned from their positions. Additionally, two former senior state officials have surrendered to U.S. authorities.