After a five-year investigation, Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) officially exonerated Pío López Obrador, David León, and the Morena party from allegations of illicit campaign financing. The case stemmed from videos released in 2020 showing Pío—brother of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador—receiving envelopes filled with cash from David León, then a government advisor in Chiapas.
Pío López Obrador, a sociologist and entrepreneur from Chiapas, is known for his involvement in agriculture and the family business Chocolates Rocío. David León Romero served as the national coordinator of Civil Protection and was a close aide to former Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco. The footage raised suspicions that the funds were intended to support Morena’s early political campaigns.
However, the INE’s General Council concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove the money was used for electoral purposes. The investigation, led by the Commission of Fiscalization, found no traceable financial records, bank transactions, or fiscal documentation linking the cash to Morena’s campaign operations between 2015 and 2018.
Authorities such as the Financial Intelligence Unit and the National Banking Commission were consulted, but no irregularities were found. Additionally, the videos were deemed inadmissible as legal evidence due to alleged post-production edits. The Electoral Crimes Prosecutor’s Office had already declined to pursue criminal charges in 2022.
The unanimous decision by INE’s council emphasized the principle of presumption of innocence and the lack of concrete proof. While critics argue the case reflects broader concerns about transparency in political financing, the resolution marks the official closure of one of the most controversial episodes involving the López Obrador family and the ruling party.
Source: Eje Central
