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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | March 2008 
Mexican Cabinet Secretary Investigated
 Associated Press
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| | Born in Spain, Mourino became a Mexican citizen almost two decades ago, served as a federal legislator and went on to become President Felipe Calderon's closest adviser as head of the Office of the Presidency. | | |
Mexico City - Mexico's federal attorney general's office on Tuesday announced an investigation into allegations of corruption against Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mourino, a confidant of the president who holds the government's second highest profile job.
Mourino faces allegations of using his political clout while previously serving as a federal congressman and top energy official to benefit a family business.
The announcement came after a prominent opposition politician produced a series of contracts dated from 2000 to 2004 between state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, and the Mourino family business, Transportes Especializados Ivancar SA.
"Various public officials have accused Juan Camilo Mourino Terrazo of allegedly benefiting private companies through his role as a public servant," the attorney general's office said in a statement. Mourino "has requested that the charges be clarified because he feels they lack substance."
Earlier Tuesday, Mourino held a news conference and denied the accusations.
"As a public servant, I never took part in any act that would have economically benefited me or my family," he said.
Mourino said contracts between the family business and Pemex date back to 1985, when he was 14, and the relationship has continued "uninterrupted" ever since.
In January, Mourino replaced Francisco Ramirez Acuna, who stepped down amid an upsurge in drug-fueled killings and criticism that he cracked down on opposition protests.
The interior secretary has traditionally acted as the president's chief negotiator with the legislative branch, opposition groups and state officials.
Born in Spain, Mourino became a Mexican citizen almost two decades ago, served as a federal legislator and went on to become President Felipe Calderon's closest adviser as head of the Office of the Presidency. |
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