Mexico’s Sinaloa state governor resigns amid US drug trafficking charges

Ruben Rocha Moya again denies allegations he shielded cartel, says taking ‘temporary leave’ to defend self.The governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state has temporarily resigned days after being charged by United States authorities in a sweeping drug trafficking indictment that has further strained relations between the two countries.In a brief video statement posted late Friday, Ruben Rocha Moya again denied any wrongdoing, but said he was taking “temporary leave” to defend himself against the US allegations.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3CIA agents reported killed in Mexico were not authorised to operate: Gov’tlist 2 of 3Mexico’s Jalisco drug cartel commander ‘El Jardinero’ found hiding in ditchlist 3 of 3FIFA urged to push US for ‘ICE Truce’ at World Cup by rights groupend of listThe indictment unsealed by US prosecutors earlier this week claimed that Rocha Moya and nine other officials directly aided the Sinaloa drug cartel in its smuggling operations in exchange for political support and bribes.That support included members of the powerful cartel kidnapping and threatening opposition candidates in the 2021 election and stealing paper ballots cast for those running against Rocha Moya, the indictment charged.Rocha Moya is a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s progressive Morena party.“My conscience is clear,” Rocha Moya said in the video message. “To my people and to my family, I can look you in the eye because I have never betrayed you, and I never will.”Juan de Dios Gamez Mendivil, the mayor of the Sinaloa state capital Culiacan who was among the other officials charged by the US, also announced he would step down on Saturday. He has denied the allegations.Sheinbaum has also pushed back on charges, which come at a time when she has sought to navigate tense relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump.On Thursday, she said her government had not been provided with any concrete evidence to back up the claims, suggesting the information laid out in the indictment was insufficient.