# Manipulating the Law is Also a Crime
“For the individual citizen, everything that is not prohibited is permitted; but for public organizations, and especially the government, everything that is not permitted is prohibited.” — John Laws, English jurist
In the exercise of public duties, the assurance and balance for the governed rely on the obligation of those in power to respect and strengthen the principle of legality. This principle includes limits and restrictions that prevent power abuses.
This means that every act of state organs must be founded and motivated by the prevailing law. Public officials can only perform actions explicitly authorized by the law they vowed to uphold when taking office.
If a law is undesirable for them, officials do not have the liberty to violate it; they have the authority to modify it. For example, Morena has announced plans to do so in the upcoming Legislature, where they are expected to have an absolute majority with 161 directly elected deputies and 87 proportional representation seats.
This amounts to 248 legislators from Morena. Together with their coalition partners, the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico and the Labor Party, totaling 125 seats, they will command 373 seats — 75% of Congress. This gives them the necessary majority to make any legal changes they desire.
“Under the Law, nothing; above the Law, nobody,” has been the mantra of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his followers in Morena. However, his speeches often clash with reality as his party members and allies violate the Constitution and general regulations.
In Mexico City, for instance, prosecutor Ulises Lara chose to disregard a judge’s order on August 14, preventing the Chihuahua government from executing an arrest warrant for corruption against former governor Javier Corral.
Equally strange was how the Federal Attorney General’s Office ineffective in addressing crimes within Mexico, suddenly launched an investigation involving more than 100 actions across both sides of the border in just 17 days. This probe follows the voluntary surrender of Joaquín Guzmán López to the U.S. government, who handed over his godfather Ismael Zambada and was busy arranging a meeting with Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who had been exonerated without investigation by López Obrador.
Another disturbing example of power abuse was the determination made by the Sixth Regional Metropolitan Chamber of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice on August 7, 2024, which ruled that the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) could not sanction Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, a Supreme Court minister, for plagiarizing her 1987 thesis.
Edgar Ulises Báez, who completed his nearly identical thesis a year earlier, pushed this case forward. Despite UNAM’s confirmation of the plagiarism, the court ruled they lacked jurisdiction as Esquivel is no longer a student but merely an alumnus.
Legal experts consulted expressed that fear influences these judges’ rulings, a fear they argue judges earning between $108,000 and $119,000 a month should not feel. As the late activist Alejandro Martí once said, “If you can’t do it, resign.”
These experts also mentioned the possibility of seeking an injunction, but it must be pursued by an interested party, whether a member of the review committee or UNAM itself.
The issue here is that Esquivel attained her law degree through corrupt means and is being protected, a protection surely absent if similar accusations were leveled against other Supreme Court magistrates frequently criticized by President López Obrador.
Examples of this political institution’s blatant disregard for internal rules and premature campaign activities abound. It remains crucial for individuals and organized society to claim their rights, challenge injustices legally, and remind those in power that until they change the laws, they are obligated to follow them.
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## Additional Coverage
### Federal Attorney General’s Office Investigates in the Case of “El Mayo” Zambada
On August 11, 2024, the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR), in a rare burst of activity, probed cases of illicit flight, illegal use of air installations, violations of immigration and customs laws, kidnapping, and treason. This investigation began shortly after Joaquín Guzmán López surrendered to U.S. authorities and delivered his godfather Ismael Zambada. Zambada claimed he had a scheduled meeting with Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who was publicly cleared by President López Obrador without investigation.
### Criminal Organization Affiliations Lead to Arrests
On August 8, 2024, four men were linked to organized crime and detained, underscoring the ongoing criminal activities that continue to plague the region despite law enforcement efforts.
### Betrayal by Minors Explored in Podcast
The podcast titled “La Traición de los Menores,” published on August 2, 2024, delves into the complexities around minors involved in criminal endeavors and the broader societal implications.
### Suspect in Police Chief’s Murder Apprehended
A significant breakthrough occurred on July 29, 2024, with the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in the assassination of a police chief in Tijuana, further highlighting the endemic violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement.