Indicted Sinaloa Governor Steps Down Again After One Day Back In Office
Rubén Rocha Moya, Sinaloa's governor, submitted an indefinite leave of absence on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 — one day after he returned to the governor's office.[1]
Rocha had announced his return on Friday, Aug. 21, saying he resumed the governorship "with a clear conscience and head held high." Fox News His leave request was contained in a letter dated Aug. 22 that the Sinaloa state congress stamped as received that day.[1] Rocha said he spent 112 days away from office to make himself available to Mexican authorities and to personally appear before the Attorney General's Office.[1] President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X that "no personal interest can ever stand above the interests of the people and the Nation" after his brief return.[1]
In April 2026, U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug-trafficking and weapons offenses tied to the Sinaloa cartel, making Rocha the first sitting Mexican governor to face such U.S. charges.[2] Mexico's Interior Ministry and the ruling Morena party said they had no advance notice of Rocha's decision to return and publicly distanced themselves, and Mexico's attorney general's investigation remains open.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Rubén Rocha Moya announced his return to office on Friday, August 21, 2026, saying it was a 'duty to fulfill the mandate' of voters and that he resumed the governorship 'with a clear conscience and head held high.' Rubén Rocha Moya
- Rocha submitted a new request for an indefinite leave of absence in a letter dated Saturday, August 22, 2026, which was stamped as received that day by the Sinaloa State Congress. letter dated Saturday, August 22, 2026
- He said he had spent 112 days away from office making himself available to Mexican authorities, personally appearing before the Attorney General's Office and answering investigators' questions. Attorney General's Office
- Rocha reiterated that he views the U.S. charges as 'false accusations' and described them as 'fabrications' intended to damage Mexico's sovereignty and the left-wing movement he represents. U.S. charges
- U.S. prosecutors in April 2026 charged Rocha and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses linked to the Sinaloa cartel; Rocha is the first sitting Mexican governor to face such U.S. charges. U.S. prosecutors
- President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X that 'no personal interest can ever stand above the interests of the people and the Nation' and that 'positions are temporary, but responsibility to the Nation is eternal' in response to Rocha's brief return. President Claudia Sheinbaum
- Mexico's Interior Ministry and the ruling Morena party said they had no advance notice of Rocha's decision to return to office, publicly distanced themselves from the move, and emphasized that the Mexican attorney general's investigation remains open. Mexico's Interior Ministry and Morena party
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Fox article confirms Rubén Rocha Moya's new request for an indefinite leave of absence was set out in a letter dated Saturday, August 22, 2026 and stamped as received that day by the Sinaloa State Congress.
- Rocha publicly framed his Friday, August 21, 2026 return to office as a 'duty to fulfill the mandate' of voters and claimed to resume his governorship 'with a clear conscience and head held high.'
- Rocha said he spent 112 days away from office making himself available to Mexican authorities, personally appearing before the Attorney General's Office and answering investigators' questions.
- Rocha reiterated that he views the U.S. charges as 'false accusations' and described them as 'fabrications' aimed at damaging Mexico's sovereignty and the left-wing movement he represents.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Rocha's brief return with a pointed public statement on X that 'no personal interest can ever stand above the interests of the people and the Nation' and that 'positions are temporary, but responsibility to the Nation is eternal.'
- Mexico's Interior Ministry and Morena party are reported as having had no advance notice of Rocha's decision to return to office and publicly distanced themselves from his move, while emphasizing that the Mexican attorney general's investigation remains open.
- The article reiterates that U.S. prosecutors in April 2026 charged Rocha and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses linked to the Sinaloa cartel, and notes that Rocha is the first sitting Mexican governor to face such U.S. charges.