Sinaloa governor seeks leave again after US cartel indictment
Why it matters: The reversal deepens pressure on Mexico's ruling Morena party as US prosecutors pursue a rare case against a sitting governor.
Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha requested another leave of absence on Aug. 22, just one day after returning to office from a more than three-month break tied to US cartel charges. Rocha had resumed his post on Aug. 21, but his comeback drew a backlash from Mexico's government and his ruling Morena party.
In April, US federal prosecutors charged Rocha and nine other current and former officials with conspiring with Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, to help move drugs into the United States in exchange for bribes and political support. President Claudia Sheinbaum posted that personal interests cannot come before the public, sharpening pressure on Rocha without naming him. Rocha has called the US case politically motivated.