During his ‘Mañanera’, López Obrador answered the questionnaire about alleged drug payments.
Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), faces new accusations over alleged drug trafficking payments to officials close to his government and his own children.
The interview request sent by The New York Times (NYT) has unleashed a series of questions about the relationship between organized crime and political power in the country.
During his morning conference this Thursday, February 22, the federal president directly addressed the questions posed by the NYT, revealing details about the investigation and offering compelling answers.
The New York Times prepara nuevo reportaje contra AMLO
— Político MX (@politicomx) February 22, 2024
El presidente @lopezobrador_ reveló que el @nytimes le hizo llegar un documento sobre otro reportaje de una investigación que habría hecho el gobierno de EUA por el dinero que presuntamente recibieron funcionarios cercanos a… pic.twitter.com/lRrDbE29Dd
The questionnaire sent by The New York Times focuses on an investigation carried out by US authorities , based on testimonies and evidence of money transfers, which suggests links between close allies of the president and drug trafficking.
The investigation, begun in the current six-year term, has raised suspicions about meetings between senior officials and cartel leaders, as well as million-dollar payments to collaborators of the president.
🚨 El presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador #AMLO acusó que #TheNewYorkTimes está armando un reportaje sobre un presunto financiamiento del narco en 2018, mismo en el que el diario de Estados Unidos lo señala de haber recibido un 'narcopago' cuando saludó a la madre de Joaquín… pic.twitter.com/Iugc1VFhAD
— Grupo Fórmula (@Radio_Formula) February 22, 2024
AMLO responds to the NYT
López Obrador flatly denied the accusations, calling them false. In relation to meetings allegedly held before the 2018 elections and alleged payments to his collaborators, the president denied any participation in or knowledge of such illicit activities .
Likewise, he refuted the existence of videos that implicate his children in criminal activities, and if they exist, that they show them.
#EnLaMañanera | #AMLO reveló que el periódico The New York Times (@nytimes) envió una solicitud de entrevista con el mandatario, sobre una nueva investigación realizada por el gobierno de #EU relacionada con financiamiento ilícito en relación con sus hijos y funcionarios en 2018. pic.twitter.com/X2RAjiYLBz
— El Financiero TV (@ElFinancieroTv) February 22, 2024
The revelation of this investigation worries about a possible impact on bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States . Accusations of links between organized crime and the Mexican government could affect mutual trust and cooperation on security issues and the fight against drug trafficking with Joe Biden.
Despite this, AMLO expressed his confidence that these accusations will not affect relations with the United States and stated that he expects a transparent response from the US government. However, he stressed the importance of clarifying the details of the investigation and denying false accusations.
