Rocha Moya requested a leave of absence as governor of Sinaloa: “I will not allow myself to be used to harm the movement.”

With Claudia Sheinbaum in Palenque, Rubén Rocha Moya finally called a press conference on Friday night and, in exactly two minutes, announced his temporary leave of absence as governor of Sinaloa. This outcome further fuels speculation that the President went to seek a solution to this political crisis with her predecessor.

As reported since Wednesday, when the Southern District of New York made public the 34-page formal indictment—five counts, ten defendants, physical evidence, and a potential life sentence—the pressure on Rocha did not come from Washington but from within.

Rocha apparently read the message clearly. But before giving in, she resisted. That same Wednesday, she had “categorically and absolutely” rejected the accusation and called it a “perverse strategy to violate the constitutional order.”

Rocha on high alert: a senator close to Claudia asked her to be “responsible” and resign from the governorship. On Thursday, at an event in Navolato, she told the media: “There’s nothing to fear. I feel I’m a clean person.” And she added, so there would be no doubt: “Let’s not jump the gun.” Meanwhile, Sheinbaum said at the National Palace that she would only proceed if “conclusive and irrefutable evidence” arrived – language that in the 4T means buying time.