Governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, Rubén Rocha, delivering a video address [Reuters Yonhap News file photo]

Rubén Rocha, the 76-year-old governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, who was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of involvement in drug trafficking, has stepped down from his post, according to The New York Times (NYT) on the 2nd (local time).

According to the report, Governor Rocha announced in a video address released the previous night that he would temporarily step down from his duties while asserting his innocence regarding allegations of involvement with drug cartels raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The U.S. Department of Justice had previously indicted 10 current and former Mexican officials, including Governor Rocha, on April 29th for violations of drug trafficking and firearms laws.

According to the indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice, they are accused of sheltering the activities of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's largest drug trafficking organizations, and conspiring to allow large quantities of drugs to enter the United States.

Governor Rocha is a member of the ruling MORENA party, a left-wing party, and is known as an associate of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is a political mentor to President Sheinbaum.

The U.S. prosecution determined that Governor Rocha received direct assistance from a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel during his election victory in 2021. The U.S. prosecution believes that this faction kidnapped or threatened Rocha's opponent, forcing them to withdraw from the election.

The indictment of a current Mexican governor by the U.S. Department of Justice is creating significant political and diplomatic repercussions.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated at a regular press conference on April 30th that the investigation was for "political purposes" in the absence of "clear evidence."

President Sheinbaum also expressed her intention to proceed with judicial procedures under Mexican jurisdiction if clear evidence is received from the U.S. side or if criminal facts are discovered during an internal investigation.