Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged that no one will receive special treatment under the law after a video surfaced allegedly showing former state oil company Pemex chief Victor Rodriguez physically assaulting his wife.
Speaking at her daily press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum said authorities would allow the legal process to take its course and stressed that violence against women would not be tolerated.
“Let the law be applied. We will not protect anyone,” she said, adding that Rodriguez would not be appointed to any future position in her administration.
The controversy follows the release of a five-minute video on YouTube on Friday by a woman identifying herself as Maria Felicia Jimenez, who said she is Rodriguez’s wife.
The footage, which appears to have been recorded by a home surveillance camera and carries a timestamp of March 15, 2026, allegedly shows Rodriguez grabbing a woman by the neck, pulling her hair, pushing her and restraining her on a sofa. A young child is also seen briefly in the video before leaving the room.
Reuters reported that it was able to confirm the identities of Rodriguez and Jimenez in the video, although it could not independently verify where or when the footage was recorded.
At the time the incident allegedly occurred, Rodriguez was serving as chief executive of Pemex. He stepped down from the role on May 14 in a jointly recorded video with Sheinbaum, who thanked him for his service and said his resignation followed a timeline agreed upon when he accepted the position.
Rodriguez could not immediately be reached for comment. However, a statement posted on Friday through an X account appearing to belong to him said he had withdrawn from public life while investigations continue and would cooperate fully with the relevant authorities.
In a statement accompanying the YouTube video, Jimenez said speaking publicly about the alleged abuse had come at great personal cost.
She claimed she had risked losing her job, financial security, housing and even custody of her children because of Rodriguez’s alleged close ties to senior political figures, including the presidency and other government officials.
Jimenez also appealed directly for protection, noting that Mexico is now led by a woman president and asking authorities to ensure the safety of both herself and her children.
Following the video’s release, the Attorney General’s Office in the state of Morelos announced that it had opened an investigation into possible criminal offences after reviewing footage appearing to show an act of violence against a woman.
Sheinbaum has consistently made women’s rights and protection from gender-based violence a key priority of her administration, declaring the beginning of an “era of women” when she assumed office.
Rodriguez has long been regarded as a close ally of the president, with their personal and professional relationship dating back to their university years.
Although he was announced as the incoming head of the National Institute of Electricity and Clean Energy (INEEL) after leaving Pemex, Mexico’s Energy Ministry later clarified that the appointment was never formally completed.
