Marina del Pilar acknowledges audio on U.S. agreements; denies 'secret deals'

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda has confirmed the authenticity of a leaked audio recording in which she is heard speaking with individuals identified as "external advisors from the FBI" about potential accusations originating from the United States.

The recording features the governor mentioning her efforts to secure legal counsel from outside Baja California to prevent leaks, specifically naming Michael Nadler as the attorney she wished to handle all legal and judicial procedures and explain the situation. In an interview with Semanario Zeta, Ávila Olmeda vehemently denied columnist Héctor de Mauleón's accusations of "secret deals" with U.S. authorities, calling them "a total lie and absolutely false."

However, she acknowledged that as governor, she holds "very institutional, very respectful, and totally transparent" meetings with U.S. authorities. These discussions, she stated, aim to promote the well-being of families on both sides of the border. "The context of this call occurred when a third party, claiming to be an intermediary, approached me, and I said, 'any situation must be handled through a lawyer,'" the governor explained.

Ávila Olmeda also stated that she did, at one point, seek assistance from a legal advisor who is no longer part of her team. She insisted that the meeting referred to in the audio "never happened" and affirmed that she continues to work diligently for the people of Baja California. She highlighted recent progress made during a three-day tour with the President of the Republic concerning projects in Baja California.

Journalist Héctor de Mauleón, who initially published details about the audio, claimed in his column that the governor was offered meetings "at the American consulate, in an office in Tijuana" to assist her with "sanctions and charges" that the U.S. government might bring against her. Following the governor's public statements, De Mauleón criticized on social media that "in the audio, she says one thing and publicly declares another."