Mexico's Sheinbaum promises no protection to the ex-Pemex boss after his wife posts an alleged abuse video
On 'Monday, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexican president, vowed that she wouldn't protect anyone after it appeared in a video that the former head of state energy company Pemex Victor Rodriguez violently abused his wife.
The video, posted on YouTube by a woman who identified herself as Maria Felicia Jimenez (Rodriguez's wife), appears to have been captured by a home security system in a family room. It has a date stamp of March 15, 2026. Rodriguez was still the head of Pemex when the video was recorded. He announced his resignation on May 14, in a video that was recorded with Sheinbaum. She thanked him and stated that his resignation was in line with the timeline he set for himself as a condition for accepting the position.
Rodriguez was not available for comment. On Friday, a statement appeared on an X profile that appeared to be Rodriguez's. It stated that he has stepped down from public roles while the investigation continues and that he is open to cooperating in any way with authorities.
Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference, "Let the laws be applied. We will not protect anyone."
Sheinbaum added that there could be "no violence against women" and that Rodriguez wouldn't take another role in the government.
The five-minute video viewed by shows Rodriguez grabbing the woman's neck, pulling at her hair, pushing her and holding her on a sofa.
Rodriguez wears no top for a part of the video. At the beginning, a young boy can be seen before he runs out of the shot. The video's location or date of filming could not be verified. The video showed Rodriguez and Jimenez, which was confirmed.
A statement that accompanied the YouTube video stated: "Breaking his?silence" meant losing my job, money, having no place to live and my children being taken away from me. This was all because of the closeness of the man to the highest spheres -- the president, governors members of congress, secretaries state.
It said: "This is a women-led government, so I'm asking for help and the necessary measures to be taken in order to protect myself and my minor children."
On Friday, the Attorney General's Office for Morelos announced on X that it had launched an investigation into alleged criminal acts stemming a video in which "a violent act is observed against a woman."
Sheinbaum, who was elected in 2007, has repeatedly stressed the need for substantive equalities, a gender-based perspective, and a right to live a life without violence. She declared an "era of woman" upon taking office.
Rodriguez and Sheinbaum have been close friends since their days as students. Rodriguez, who left Pemex at the end of May, was named to head INEEL's energy transition institute. The energy ministry stated in a press release that the appointment of Rodriguez was never officialized. (Reporting and editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, Bill Berkrot and Ana Isabel Martinez; Additional reporting and editing by Raul Cortes, Aida Palaez Fernandez and Pola Graznka; Additional reporting and editing by Ana Isabel Martinez and Raul Cortes;
(source: Reuters)
