Background on Key Individuals and Relevance
Pío López Obrador is the brother of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who served from 2018 to 2024. The case in question stems from a video released five years ago, showing Pío López Obrador receiving cash-stuffed envelopes from David León Romero. At the time, León Romero was a political operative for the Chiapas state government led by Manuel Velasco.
Case Overview and INE’s Decision
The National Electoral Institute (INE) declined to sanction Morena and Pío López Obrador for allegedly receiving prohibited contributions, based on the 2020 video. The INE cited insufficient collaboration from authorities to gather financial evidence.
The case involves a video showing Pío López Obrador and David León Romero receiving yellow envelopes filled with cash. In the footage, Pío López Obrador is heard saying the money is “to support you here in this movement,” and León Romero assures him of the exact date for collecting the second million (in pesos). He also instructs Pío López Obrador to inform the mentioned individual through his channels that they are receiving support.
Investigation Details and Challenges
INE’s Technical Fiscalization Unit conducted multiple inquiries, requested information from the National Banking and Securities Commission, the Financial Intelligence Unit, Morena party, the Mexico City Superior Tribunal, and individuals directly involved in the videos. They also sought data from related companies to trace potential financial links.
However, the INE lamented that authorities like the Mexico City Superior Tribunal refused to share requested information, which hampered certain investigation lines, according to INE consejera Carla Humphrey.
Lack of Evidence and Future Implications
Despite the investigation, no sufficient evidence was found to confirm the alleged conduct. INE consejera Carla Humphrey, head of the Fiscalization Commission, explained that after evaluating the proof and conducting technical analyses on audiovisual material, there was no bank trail, accounting record, or fiscal verification to substantiate the origin, amount, destination, and partisan nature of the cash observed.
Humphrey emphasized the need to strengthen fiscalization tools and ensure all authorities comply with legal obligations to provide information when requested.
Opposition’s Criticism
During the case discussion, PAN representative Víctor Hugo Sondón accused the video of revealing a clear corruption scheme, recognized by the involved parties and admitted by the then-President for financing the movement.
Sondón criticized INE’s failure to acknowledge the evident “scheme of improper contributions, dubious origin, and political-electoral destination.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pío López Obrador? Brother of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- What is the case about? A 2020 video showing Pío López Obrador receiving cash from David León Romero, a political operative at the time.
- Why was the case closed? INE could not gather sufficient financial evidence due to insufficient collaboration from authorities and lack of information from certain institutions.
- What did the opposition say? PAN representative Víctor Hugo Sondón accused the video of revealing a clear corruption scheme, which was admitted by then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
