Jesús Antonio Pinedo Cornejo, who served as the coordinator of Social Communication for the Government of the State of Chihuahua from 2016 to 2018, is now practically exonerated from criminal corruption proceedings and has publicly criticized former governor Javier Corral Jurado, calling him a traitor, corrupt, ungrateful, and lazy, according to an interview given to El Diario.
The Fractured Relationship and Judicial Proceedings
Pinedo and Corral maintained a friendship for roughly 15 years before a cooling of ties around the year 2000, reconnecting later in 2015 on a radio program where Corral worked as a host. In October 2016, Pinedo assumed his role in the state administration, which he held until his resignation in December 2018 amid rising concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Pinedo was officially declared a fugitive by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office on June 22, 2021, over alleged illegal use of attributions and faculties, and was subsequently arrested on September 21, 2023, leaving a restaurant in Ciudad Juárez on a separate peculation charge. A judge of Control formally linked him to process in March 2024 for aggravated peculation due to alleged unauthorized payments received after leaving office, before Pinedo eventually secured conditional freedom by cooperating with authorities under a legal opportunity criterion.
During the legal battle, a Federal Collegiate Tribunal reviewed Pinedo’s binding-to-process decision, ruling that the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office failed to establish an economic benefit or an underlying conflict of interest that warranted criminal charges. On August 24, the tribunal instructed the Eighth District Court to direct the Chihuahua Control judge to overturn the previous resolution, leading a different state penal judge to eliminate the case on September 8. Following this dismissal, Pinedo stated he plans to pursue legal actions against the consigning judge, Miriam Urueta, alongside a moral damage lawsuit and demands for a public apology for the six years affected by the proceedings.
Did You Know? Jesús Antonio Pinedo Cornejo and Javier Corral Jurado previously co-founded a publication called Semanario when they were young.
Accusations Regarding Federal Funds and Political Shifts
Beyond his legal defense, Pinedo asserted that Corral left a sub-exercise of 15 billion pesos unaddressed during his five-year term due to a lack of executive projects needed to secure federal budget allocations. Pinedo also detailed Corral’s political trajectory from the National Action Party (PAN) to Morena, pointing out a prior alignment with Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) overseen by Dante Delgado before Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered Corral a senatorial spot. Within Morena, Pinedo claims Corral has lost political influence and has engaged in a sustained campaign against Cruz Pérez Cuéllar since 2018.
Addressing the 2017 murder of journalist Miroslava Breach in the city of Chihuahua, Pinedo stated that while he believes Corral did not participate in the killing, the former governor oversaw a systemic cover-up and avoided a thorough investigation due to pre-existing political agreements. Pinedo maintains that Corral utilized him in political disputes against current governor Maru Campos, leaving him caught in the middle of broader institutional friction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What positions did Jesús Antonio Pinedo Cornejo and Javier Corral Jurado hold?
Jesús Antonio Pinedo Cornejo served as the coordinator of Social Communication for the Government of the State of Chihuahua from October 2016 to December 2018. Javier Corral Jurado served as the governor of Chihuahua representing the PAN before later joining Morena as a senator.
Why was Jesús Antonio Pinedo Cornejo prosecuted?
Pinedo faced prosecution by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office for alleged illegal use of attributions and faculties, as well as aggravated peculation regarding contracts linked to companies connected to his former romantic partner and continued payments received after leaving public office.
How did Pinedo’s legal case conclude?
A Federal Collegiate Tribunal ruled that prosecutors failed to prove a conflict of interest or an economic benefit, leading a state penal judge to dismiss the criminal proceedings on September 8 following an appellate directive.
How do shifting political alliances alter accountability and governance in state administrations over time?
Keep reading