Background on Key Figures and Relevant Context
María Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño, a federal substitute legislator from the PAN party, has filed a political impeachment demand against Adán Augusto López Hernández, a senator from Morena. Pérez-Jaén accuses López Hernández of favoring criminal organizations during his tenure as Tabasco’s governor from January 1, 2019, to August 26, 2021. He later served as the Secretary of Gobernación from August 26, 2021, to June 16, 2023. López Hernández assumed the role of a senator on September 1, 2024, and is currently the president of the Senate’s Political Coordination Board.
Who is Hernán Bermúdez Requena?
Hernán Bermúdez Requena, formerly Tabasco’s Secretary of Public Security during López Hernández’s governorship, is accused of leading the criminal organization known as La Barredora. He was detained in Asunción, Paraguay, on September 12 last year due to illegal entry and is wanted in Mexico for alleged association with criminal activities, extortion, and express kidnapping. Mexican authorities extradited him to face charges.
Key Accusations and Evidence
Pérez-Jaén Zermeño claims that López Hernández engaged in bribery, abuse of power, and cover-ups by maintaining connections with Bermúdez Requena. She presented military intelligence reports obtained through hacking and leaking documents from the Mexican Defense Secretary’s server by the Guacamaya collective, along with journalistic notes accusing López Hernández of enabling criminal networks in Tabasco, specifically La Barredora.
Military Intelligence Reports
According to the reports, while López Hernández was governor, intelligence reports dated February 2, 22, and 25, 2021, along with March 22, 2021, warned the federal government about Bermúdez Requena’s and La Barredora’s illicit activities. Despite knowing this information, Pérez-Jaén Zermeño argues that López Hernández failed to take action, allowing the criminal operations involving fuel theft, extortion, and drug distribution to continue.
Bermúdez Requena’s Alleged Criminal Activities
The military intelligence reports mentioned that Bermúdez Requena and Los Panteras, a criminal group, were involved in illicit hydrocarbon theft and other crimes in Huimanguillo and Cárdenas, Tabasco. These reports were created six months before López Hernández took office as Secretary of Gobernación.
AMLO’s Alleged Investigation Order
Pérez-Jaén Zermeño also presented intelligence reports suggesting that then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered an investigation into Bermúdez Requena’s illicit activities on March 22, 2021. This investigation took place while López Hernández was still Tabasco’s governor and coordinated weekly security meetings involving local, state, federal authorities, the FGR, and CNI.
Political Responsibility and Impeachment Process
Under Mexican law, political responsibility arises when a public servant, especially one with significant influence and high-ranking position, commits serious acts or omissions that harm public interests or their official duties. The political impeachment process, conducted by the federal Congress based on citizen denunciations, determines if public servants are responsible for actions detrimental to public interests.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who filed the impeachment demand? María Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño, a federal substitute legislator from the PAN party.
- Against whom was the demand filed? Against Adán Augusto López Hernández, a senator from Morena.
- What are the accusations? Bribery, abuse of power, and cover-ups related to favoring criminal organizations during López Hernández’s governorship.
- What evidence was presented? Military intelligence reports obtained through hacking and leaked by the Guacamaya collective, along with journalistic notes.
- Who is Hernán Bermúdez Requena? A former Tabasco Secretary of Public Security accused of leading the criminal organization La Barredora.
- What is the political impeachment process? A procedure conducted by the federal Congress based on citizen denunciations to determine if public servants are responsible for actions detrimental to public interests.
