The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed this Tuesday that the licensed governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, has security protection to nte possible risks and defended the legitimacy of his election in 2021, amid recent US accusations about alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel.

“Life is protected just as the life of any person who could be at risk is protected,” Sheinbaum said in a press conference, when questioned about the security granted to Rocha Moya.

The Mexican president pointed out that the licensed governor personally requested protection and stated that this was granted after a risk analysis, as happens in other cases.

Rocha Moya requested a temporary leave from his position after the U.S. Department of Justice linked high level officials l in Sinaloa with drug trafficking crimes and weapons in investigations related to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Los Chapitos faction.

According to the accusation, those involved would have protected the cartel's operations, providing sensitive information and allowing the transportation of drugs to the United States, in exchange for millionaire bribes.

In that context, Sheinbaum also defended the legitimacy of Rocha Moya's election, in 2021, by ensuring that there were no allegations of violence or crime intervention that would justify annulling the elections.

“The election was validated,” the president said, when remembering that the Electoral Tribunal confirmed the win of the Sinaloa.

Additionally, Sheinbaum said he was not aware of any open investigations against Rocha Moya and reiterated that there was no evidence to annul the 2021 election.

According to national media reports, the General Attorney's Office (FGR) reactivated investigations related to the alleged intervention of the Sinaloa Cartel in the 2021 elections in the northern Mexican state.

Furthermore, the International Affairs Prosecutor's Office would have requested information from US authorities about signals linking Rocha Moya with the Los Chapitos faction. EFE