Mexico's Sheinbaum says return to post of governor facing U.S. drug charges was 'not appropriate'

Mexican ​President Claudia Sheinbaum said on ‌Monday it ​was "reckless" and "not appropriate" for Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya to return to his post while facing a domestic investigation ‌following U.S. drug trafficking allegations. Rocha, 77, a member of the ruling Morena party, dramatically returned to office on Friday but backtracked on Saturday following sharp backlash from Sheinbaum and ‌others. Sheinbaum has trod carefully around the explosive allegations against Rocha. While rejecting a ‌U.S. extradition request as lacking sufficient evidence, she has backed a Mexican investigation into the governor and hinted that his push to return to office was driven by self-interest. U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha in April ⁠with ​conspiring with the Sinaloa ⁠Cartel to traffic drugs into the United States in exchange for bribes and political support. Rocha ⁠is the first sitting governor in Mexico to face drug trafficking charges by the U.S. Rocha has denied ​the charges, calling them a politically motivated attack. He stepped down for ⁠three months before announcing on X on Friday that he had resumed power with a "clear conscience" and ⁠his "head ​held high." "I had no prior knowledge that he wanted to return," Sheinbaum said at her daily morning press conference on Monday. "I don't know what led the ⁠governor — who is once again on leave — to return," Sheinbaum added. "I haven't spoken to ⁠him, nor do ⁠I intend to." The Sinaloa state congress is expected to appoint an interim governor this week.