CULIACÁN, Mexico — Rubén Rocha Moya returned to his post as Governor of Sinaloa on Friday, August 21, 2026, marking the end of a 112-day temporary leave of absence.The politician from the ruling Morena party had stepped down on May 2 following accusations by the U.S. Department of Justice linking him to drug trafficking operations with the Sinaloa Cartel.
Clearance by Federal Prosecutors
Rocha Moya originally requested temporary leave from the Sinaloa State Congress to allow Mexican authorities to conduct an independent investigation without interference.During his absence, Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde served as acting governor.
In a public statement released on social media, Rocha Moya explained that he spent his leave cooperating fully with Mexico’s Federal Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la República or FGR). He personally appeared before federal prosecutors to respond to allegations originating from the U.S. indictment.
According to Rocha Moya, the FGR concluded its 112-day investigation after finding no evidence to substantiate criminal conduct or collusion with organized crime.
“I return with a clear conscience and head held high,” Rocha Moya stated, reaffirming that he committed no crime and intends to fulfill the mandate voters entrusted to him through October 31, 2027.
Political Backdrop and U.S. Tension
The legal dispute stemmed from an April indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice charging Rocha Moya and several current and former officials with accepting bribes in exchange for assisting cartel operations.The move marked a rare public indictment of a sitting Mexican governor by U.S. authorities.President Claudia Sheinbaum had previously called on Washington to present concrete evidence regarding the charges.
Upon returning to the executive office in Culiacán, Rocha Moya greeted members of the searching mothers collective Madres en lucha por tu regreso a casa gathered outside the government palace. Although he refrained from making immediate floor statements to journalists on-site, his formal reinstatement signals a high-stakes moment in U.S.-Mexico security and diplomatic relations.
Source: OEM
