The governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, Rubén Rocha Moya, temporarily stepped down Saturday following a U.S. indictment accusing him of protecting the Sinaloa Cartel and facilitating massive drug shipments into the United States.

State lawmakers approved Rocha's request for leave of absence, which he submitted Friday night in a YouTube video, and appointed Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde, previously the state's Secretary of Government, as interim governor. Rocha, a member of the ruling Morena party and in office since 2021, denied the allegations as "false and malicious" and said the move would allow him to defend himself while facilitating Mexican authorities' review.

The U.S. Justice Department unsealed the five-count indictment Tuesday in New York, charging Rocha and nine other current or former Mexican officials, including Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, who also stepped down, with narcotics importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and other offenses. Prosecutors alleged Rocha met with leaders of the Chapitos faction, the sons of imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, before his election, promising to install friendly officials, rig the vote through ballot theft and intimidation, shield cartel operations from probes, and permit drug-related violence in exchange for millions in bribes.

The charges carry potential life sentences or minimums of 40 years if convicted. At least three defendants are Morena affiliates. The case marks the first U.S. indictment of a sitting Mexican governor, escalating tensions amid the Trump administration's push for Mexico to combat cartels more aggressively.

Sinaloa, birthplace of the Sinaloa Cartel, has seen violent infighting between the Chapitos and rivals led by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2024. U.S. authorities previously linked Rocha to cartel matters, including a 2023 letter from a cartel figure mentioning a planned meeting with him.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, also of Morena, stated Thursday her government would not shield criminals but required "irrefutable evidence" for extradition. She rejected U.S. intervention, saying no foreign power could enter Mexican territory. Mexico's Attorney General's Office found insufficient grounds for provisional detention and plans to request more evidence from the U.S.

Rocha claimed the charges targeted his party politically. "My conscience is clear, a lifetime of work backs my words," he said. As governor, he enjoyed immunity, now lifted by his leave. The U.S. requested his detention, but no arrest has occurred.

The developments come as bilateral relations strain over fentanyl flows and cartel violence, with U.S. officials pressing for accountability among Mexican leaders enabling traffickers.