Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya has unexpectedly asked for an indefinite leave of absence, just a day after returning to his role. This decision comes on the heels of his earlier absence lasting three months, which was prompted by drug trafficking charges from U.S. authorities.
In a letter shared on social media, the 77-year-old governor requested this “temporary leave of an indefinite nature, for more than 30 days.” The letter, dated August 22 and received by the Sinaloa State Congress on the same day, did not specify a return date or the reasons for stepping away again.
Rocha had only recently returned to office, expressing his commitment to serve the people who elected him until October 31, 2027. He had previously spent 112 days away, stating he made himself available to Mexican authorities regarding what he described as “false accusations” from the U.S. government. During his absence, he claimed he cooperated with the investigation, asserting that no evidence of wrongdoing had been found against him.
Despite his insistence on his innocence, Rocha’s return was met with a cool response from both the ruling Morena party and President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government. The Morena party stated they had no prior knowledge of his return, while Sheinbaum emphasized that the responsibility to the nation is greater than personal interests.
In April, Rocha, along with nine other current and former officials, was charged by U.S. prosecutors with drug trafficking and related offenses. These officials were allegedly involved with the Sinaloa cartel in distributing significant amounts of narcotics to the United States. Rocha stands as the first sitting Mexican governor to face such charges from U.S. authorities, a situation that has caused tension between the two countries.
Sheinbaum has characterized the charges as foreign interference, arguing that the U.S. has not provided adequate evidence to support their claims against Rocha or justify his extradition.
