Mexican governor accused of aiding cartel
Manhattan prosecutors accused 10 current and former Mexican officials of participating in a conspiracy to move drugs into the United States for a cartel, according to an unsealed indictment on Wednesday.
Rubén Rocha Moya, the 76-year-old governor of Sinaloa, allegedly accepted bribes and political support in exchange for moving cartel drugs into the country. Rocha said he would temporarily step down while the investigation proceeds in the Southern District of New York, a court which is known for handling narco-terrorism and corruption concerning the cartel.
The indictment — which came amid the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on cartel activity — also accused Rocha of offering bribes in exchange for votes from the cartel. The governor denied the charges, claiming that the indictment was a direct attack on Mexico’s sovereignty.
“I can look at my people and my family in the eye because I have not betrayed them and I will never betray them,” Rocha said. “I will demonstrate that firmly at the moment when the institutions of justice of our country require it.”
Members of Mexico’s ruling Morena party have backed Rocha, insisting that President Claudia Sheinbaum has focused on anti-cartel efforts during her presidency. The United States countered that in her efforts, she is not addressing the corruption among public officials.
Mexican authorities said the U.S. government requested several Mexican officials face extradition, but they argued there is not enough evidence to proceed.
Jack Schlossberg launched first paid ad in congressional race
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, debuted his first paid campaign advertisement in the race for New York’s 12th Congressional District — stepping forward as one of the first candidates to start spending on media ahead of the June primary.
The 33-year-old Democrat shared a 30-second ad with The New York Times, featuring former U.S. House of Representative Nancy Pelosi as she praised his “deep sense of duty” and urged that Schlossberg is the young leader his party needs.
“Speaker Pelosi is the backbone of our party,” Schlossberg told The New York Times. “She most importantly understands better than anyone how the House of Representatives works and what the Democratic Party needs right now.”
Schlossberg’s campaign team said it plans to spend $70,000 on digital advertising and another $250,000 on broadcast television — a small amount compared to the millions in spending expected from super political action committees, which can raise unlimited funds for or against political candidates. Schlossberg, who inherited between $10 million and $32 million in assets, said he will not use any of his personal finances during the race.
With over a million followers across social media platforms, Schlossberg is known for his online presence, framing his opponents as old and out of touch while depicting himself as a new face for politics. He has garnered over 850,000 followers on TikTok and over 180,000 on X for his videos ranging from policy explanations to criticism of his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and a longtime vaccine skeptic.
The New York City House seat is opening as longtime Representative Jerrold Nadeler retires with hopes that the younger generation of politicians “can maybe do better.” While no public polling has been released, private polls cited by his rivals suggest that Schlossberg currently holds a small lead with just over a month until primary day.
Man files suit after wrongful NYPD assault
A Brooklyn man is aiming to sue the New York City Police Department after two narcotics detectives wrongfully assaulted and arrested him, as depicted in a video widely circulated on social media.
Timothy Brown filed a notice of claim with the city comptroller’s office two weeks after the assault, seeking $100 million in damages. Brown said that he was left with injuries to his eyes and legs, as well as with emotional distress. The suit also highlighted a larger pattern of misconduct within the NYPD’s narcotics team.
The video showed both officers, not dressed in uniform, punching, kicking and stomping on Brown — leaving a pool of blood smeared across the floor. Brown was later determined to have no involvement in the drug sale that prompted the undercover operation. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch ordered for the officers to be placed on modified duty, removing their guns and shields.
“I felt humiliated, disrespected, embarrassed, and I was brutally beaten for no reason,” Brown said at a news conference on Tuesday. “I will never heal from this.”
Derek Sells, Brown’s attorney and chair of The Cochran Firm, was accompanied by the firm’s chief executive Mina Malik to join Brown. He issued the suit against New York City and its police department, including the two alleged detectives and their supervisors. Currently, it remains unclear if a settlement or lawsuit could follow.
Contact Natalie Deoragh at [email protected].