The corruption cases that occurred under Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration have been exposed in Claudia Sheinbaum’s first year in office.
As new evidence and journalistic investigations emerge about the criminal networks and ties of some key officials in AMLO’s administration, López Obrador’s tolerance of the corruption that occurred during his administration is further highlighted.
Now, journalist Carlos Loret de Mola, in his column published in El Universal, revealed an anecdote in which a cabinet secretary of the Morena party member exposes how the former president allowed irregularities and conflicts of interest on the part of two figures very close to him: Alfonso Romo, former head of the Presidential Office, and Alejandro Esquer, former private secretary.
Both have been involved in corrupt schemes. Vector Casa de Bolsa, owned by Alfonso Romo, was sanctioned by the US for alleged money laundering from Mexican cartels; Esquer allegedly hired shell companies for López Obrador’s 2018 presidential campaign, according to an investigation by Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity.
According to the columnist, it was one of the most important officials who went to the presidential office to denounce corrupt practices by the aforementioned figures. At that meeting, he allegedly received unexpected responses from the Tabasco native.
“Regarding Alfonso Romo (…) the president listened and wrote down the accusations. They didn’t surprise him. It seems he had heard them before (…) Regarding Alejandro Esquer (…) López Obrador smiled and, downplaying the issue, said: ‘It was his turn,'” the article states.
This conversation would serve as an example of López Obrador’s permissiveness toward the vices committed by his associates.
The Corruption Cases That Tarnish AMLO
Despite repeatedly claiming to have ended corruption, there are examples of Andrés Manuel failing to eradicate malpractice during his administration, primarily within his family.
In August 2020, a video was leaked in which Pío López Obrador was captured receiving money in yellow envelopes from David León Romero, former Civil Protection coordinator.
Another case is that of Felipa Obrador, his cousin, who obtained multimillion-dollar contracts from Pemex, according to Latinus.
And his sons, “Andy” and Gonzalo López Beltrán, allegedly wove a network of influence peddling to do business with the 4T’s flagship projects—such as the Mayan Train and the Olmeca refinery—and to benefit their friends with contracts, as in the case of businessman Amílcar Olán.
On the other hand, there is the fiscal fuel theft network organized within the Navy and led by Manuel Roberto and Fernando Farías Laguna, nephews of Rafael Ojeda, who was in charge of the institution during AMLO’s administration.
In addition, there are the cases involving former Tabasco governor and current senator Adán Augusto López, who has faced questions about his enrichment and the criminal ties of his former Secretary of Security, Hernán Bermúdez, the alleged leader of La Barredora.
Source: politico
