Mexican President López Obrador is facing a probe for revealing a reporter’s phone number

The disclosure of a journalist’s telephone number by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during one of his daily press briefings has sparked a probe by Mexico’s transparency and data protection office. The incident occurred while López Obrador was addressing questions from The New York Times regarding a report it was preparing on alleged drug cartel connections to his associates.

The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection has announced an investigation to determine if López Obrador’s actions violated any laws. This development comes amid concerns over press freedom and privacy rights, particularly in Mexico, which is known as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists.

The New York Times denounced the incident as “troubling and unacceptable,” emphasizing the growing threats against journalists globally. Additionally, the newspaper reported that US law enforcement officials had investigated allegations of individuals close to López Obrador receiving millions of dollars from criminal organizations. While no direct ties between the president and criminal groups were found, the allegations remain contentious.

López Obrador dismissed the accusations as “slander” and called on the US government to address them transparently. This is not the first time the Mexican president has faced allegations in the US media, as he previously rejected claims that drug traffickers funded his 2006 presidential campaign.

The ongoing scrutiny underscores the challenges faced by journalists and public officials in navigating issues of transparency, accountability, and press freedom, particularly in environments where political tensions are high.

Politics News: Mexican President López Obrador is facing a probe for revealing a reporter’s phone number