PAZ and Somos México formalize their registration with the INE

The reasons behind legal forgiveness

Surprisingly, María Felicia Jiménez Lavie granted legal forgiveness to her husband, Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director of Pemex who was facing a trial for attacks at home.

The forgiveness was formalized through a document presented before the Control Judge, Adriana Correa Ortiz. Jiménez Lavie, an engineer of Cuban origin, expressed her desire to stop the judicial files in Morelos and Mexico City. He argued that he seeks to avoid the emotional exhaustion of his minor children and that he has achieved a genuine reconciliation.

The decision took both the Prosecutor’s Office and the defense by surprise. The evidence in the case had recently been strengthened, including a video spread on social networks that showed the physical assault that occurred last March within a subdivision of the municipality of Emiliano Zapata.

In the document, the victim indicated that continuing with the criminal investigation against her will would represent institutional revictimization, damaging the stability and dynamics of her family unit. Given this withdrawal, the judge set a hearing for this Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., in which Jiménez Lavie must formally appear to recognize his signature and ratify the writing.

If the legal procedure is completed, the former federal official would obtain his immediate release from prison to continue the process in freedom. The decision is based on the criterion of privileging the harmonious development and unity of the home.

President Claudia Sheinbaum called on civil society, political forces and Congress to close ranks against the violation of the human rights of Mexicans in the United States.

Criminal complaints for deaths of fellow nationals

In the morning conference, the president reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will formalize criminal complaints this Monday before the Department of Justice and US state prosecutors’ offices for the death of 17 compatriots. The deaths occurred in custody or in operations of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).

Sheinbaum explained that Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez contacted the US ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, to notify him of the international legal procedures in defense of the migrant community. The ambassador was receptive, according to the president, who clarified that the Mexican position does not seek a diplomatic conflict with its main commercial and security partner, but rather to establish a firm limit against abuses against individual guarantees.

The specialized Control judge, Adriana Correa, issued an order to bring proceedings against Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), for the crime of family violence to the detriment of his wife, María Felicia Jiménez Lavie, and his minor son.

Forgiveness without legal value

The case took an unexpected turn: the defense presented a document signed by the victim in which he granted forgiveness to Rodríguez Padilla and requested not to continue with the process to seek reconciliation. However, the judge rejected the document, considering that it has no probative value, since the crime is prosecuted ex officio and the signature is not legally certified.

Imputation for vicarious violence dismissed

The judge dismissed the charge of vicarious violence. He argued that the evidence did not prove that the former official tried to abduct or retain his son. On the contrary, it was proven that he lived with the minor days after the attack against his partner.

Next steps

The defense requested the conditional suspension of the process, which would allow Rodríguez Padilla to remain free. The judge considered the request viable, but conditioned its admissibility on the victim appearing personally to ratify the pardon. For this reason, he summoned a new hearing for this Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.

In addition, he instructed the Prosecutor’s Office to interview María Felicia Jiménez to explain the legal implications of her request. The intermediate hearing, where the evidence from both parties will be analyzed, was set for October 13.

Defense questions evidence

During the hearing, the former director’s lawyers questioned the authenticity of the video of the attack—without audio—and pointed out that there are no eyewitnesses. The judge rejected those arguments: she considered the video as relevant evidence and recalled that family violence usually occurs in private.