President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the sending of a diplomatic letter of protest to the United Kingdom for granting political asylum to Karime Macías, ex-wife of former Veracruz governor Javier Duarte. Sheinbaum questioned the decision given the corruption and fraud accusations against Macías, and the source of funds she uses to live abroad with her children. The announcement was made during the morning press conference on February 17.
During the morning press conference on February 17, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico will send a letter of estrangement to the UK government. The diplomatic note aims to express disagreement over the granting of political asylum to Karime Macías, ex-wife of Javier Duarte, who faces allegations of corruption and fraud.
Sheinbaum questioned the source of funds Macías uses to support her children Javier, Carolina, and Emilio, and to reside in "a special place" in London. "This person who has been living in the UK for quite some time, who knows with what money, because having the children there, living in a special place, where from? Today the letter is sent saying that a woman accused of fraud and corruption, how is it possible that they grant her asylum," the president stated.
She recalled a finding during raids on Duarte's properties: a notebook allegedly belonging to Macías with the repeated phrase "Yes, I deserve abundance." Sheinbaum mentioned a reported diversion of 415 million pesos during Duarte's administration.
The accusations against Macías date back to her time heading the DIF of Veracruz. An investigation by Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity revealed that over 415 million pesos were given to 33 ghost companies. In 2018, an arrest warrant was issued for patrimonial damage of 112 million pesos. On October 29, 2019, Macías was detained in London, and the Westminster Magistrates' Court approved her extradition to Mexico, though the process was not completed. Macías has declared herself innocent and stated she will continue fighting to prove it.
