Ex-Chihuahua Chief Faces Treason Trial Date

César Jáuregui, the former attorney general of Chihuahua, faces a potential trial for treason. A federal judge is scheduled to rule on Saturday whether to accept the indictment. The charge stems from a joint drug enforcement operation in April that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. nationals.

Prosecutors argue that Jáuregui compromised national security by allowing U.S. agents to participate in a field operation without notifying the federal government. They contend that such decisions are reserved for Mexico's central authorities. If convicted, he could receive a sentence ranging from five to 40 years.

The incident occurred on April 19 during a raid on a chemical drug lab in the municipality of Morelos. A vehicle in the convoy crashed into a ravine on the return trip. Two Mexican state officials and two Americans died in the accident. The operation ended without arrests because the suspects escaped.

Jáuregui initially described the Americans as instructor officers engaged in training under binational cooperation. He identified the site as one of the largest chemical drug production facilities in the country. He resigned following the deaths to allow for an inquiry. He was arrested on October 17 on state charges of illegal exercise of public office, which a judge approved for trial on Thursday.

Defense attorney Héctor Villasana stated that prosecutors sought an exemplary punishment during a closed hearing. He said the goal was to prevent a scenario similar to the U.S. removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. State Department confirmed it is monitoring the case but did not link the legal action directly to the CIA deaths.

Legal experts question the validity of the treason charge. Samuel González, a former chief prosecutor, noted that treason is typically a wartime crime. He argued that failing to inform federal authorities or allowing armed foreign agents constitutes a failure of duty but not treason. Carlos Pérez Ricart of CIDE university called the move a political decision ahead of the 2027 midterm elections. He warned that the case sends a negative signal to Washington.

Accounts of the Americans' roles have varied. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson referred to them as embassy personnel, while sources familiar with the matter identified them as CIA agents. The CIA declined to comment. Mexico's security ministry stated that one American entered as a visitor and the other held a diplomatic passport. Neither had formal accreditation for operational activities. President Claudia Sheinbaum said no permission was granted for the agents to operate in Mexico.