Journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio revealed in his latest column that high-ranking figures within Morena and close allies of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador have become informants for the United States government. According to the analyst, this phenomenon reflects an internal fracture within the self-described “Fourth Transformation” amid U.S. investigations into alleged ties to organized crime.
The Split at the Top: Adán Augusto and Rutilio Escandón
The analysis directly points to Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández and the current Consul in Miami, Rutilio Escandón, as key figures in this situation. Both politicians, who maintained close family and political ties with López Obrador’s inner circle, are now allegedly cooperating with U.S. authorities amid a personal and financial dispute.
“López Hernández and Escandón are part of an undefined number of governors, legislators, and politicians who want to become informants for the United States, an unprecedented phenomenon in Mexico,” Riva Palacio states.
The columnist explains that while President Claudia Sheinbaum has adopted a narrative centered on defending national sovereignty against external accusations, a more pragmatic “every person for themselves” mentality reportedly prevails within Morena.
The “Parallel Criminal Economy” Under Scrutiny
Riva Palacio describes López Hernández and Escandón as having played fundamental roles in building what U.S. intelligence agencies describe as a “parallel criminal economy.” According to the column, these operations allegedly developed during their governorships in Tabasco and Chiapas, facilitating trafficking routes and strengthening the presence of organizations such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and local groups such as “La Barredora.”
The journalist also claims that Senator López Hernández has been the subject of investigations in Washington involving activities ranging from fuel smuggling—allegedly linked to the former president’s sons—to financial operations connected to organized crime.
“The senator has shown signs of nervousness in recent weeks and has tried to speak with Sheinbaum, who, as far as is known, has not received him. During that same period […] he began sending information to the Americans,” the analyst writes.
A Complicated Situation for the Sheinbaum Administration
The report emphasizes that while Consul Rutilio Escandón has reportedly been identified as a cooperating witness in Miami, Senator López Hernández’s case presents a much greater political challenge for the federal government. As a political figure inherited from and protected by López Obrador, his alleged willingness to provide information to Washington could become a direct risk to the former president’s inner circle and family.
The article concludes that these individual actions, allegedly driven by the urgency to avoid legal consequences in the United States, function as “torpedoes” that threaten to destabilize the unity and public image of the governing movement, challenging the ideological containment strategy pursued by the current federal administration.
Source: informador
