Senator from Morena party evades breathalyzer test in Oaxaca, causing viral frenzy on social media platforms.
In the heart of Mexico, a political storm has erupted, as a substitute senator from the Morena party in Oaxaca, Natalie Chavez, found herself at the centre of a controversy on August 10th, 2025. According to a report by The Oaxaca Post, Chavez was caught driving under the influence during a routine breathalyzer checkpoint.
The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media and reignited debates about the abuse of political privilege in Mexico. The senator's invocation of "fuero" - a legal protection granted to elected officials - was seen as a blatant misuse of power. Critics argued that such protections were never intended to cover criminal behaviour, especially actions that endanger public safety, like driving while intoxicated.
This controversy has prompted calls for reform, with activists and legal experts urging lawmakers to reconsider the scope of immunity granted to public officials. The incident coincides with broader legislative efforts in Mexico and abroad to tighten DUI laws and hold public figures to higher standards.
Meanwhile, in a separate but equally significant political development, Jeffrey Lichtman, the attorney for Ovidio Guzmán (son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán), has made defamation claims against Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president. Lichtman's accusations challenge the Mexican president's integrity and have heightened tensions between high-profile political figures and criminal defense lawyers connected to major cartel figures.
These exchanges occur amid heightened cartel violence and a contentious political environment in Mexico, where Sheinbaum positions herself as protecting sovereignty against both cartel influence and foreign intervention. Lichtman’s public challenges and reported threats against him highlight how cartel-related political and legal disputes remain deeply intertwined with Mexico’s national governance issues and international relations.
In summary, the Oaxaca DUI controversy and the legal dispute between Lichtman and Sheinbaum are significant because they:
- Question the Mexican government’s official account and strategies against crime, risking political credibility.
- Reflect the ongoing clash between Mexican authorities and criminal organizations’ legal representatives, creating a volatile political and judicial environment.
- Highlight the broader tensions in Mexican politics over cartel violence, sovereignty, and rule of law amid a complex domestic and international context.
These implications show the sensitive and high-stakes nature of comments by a cartel lawyer against a sitting president, making the conflict not only a legal matter but also a significant political episode in Mexico’s ongoing challenges with organized crime and governance.
[1] The Oaxaca Post, August 10th, 2025. [2] The report mentions Dr. José Andrés Azcárate Varela as the new President of the Rotary Club of San Luis Potosí. This fact does not directly relate to the political scandal but was mentioned in the same paragraph.
The controversy surrounding Natalie Chavez's DUI incident has become a hot topic in Mexico's policy-and-legislation sphere, igniting debates about political privilege abuse. Meanwhile, the legal dispute between Jeffrey Lichtman and Claudia Sheinbaum falls under crime-and-justice, as it reflects the ongoing clash between Mexican authorities and criminal organizations' legal representatives. These incidents underscore the general-news-worthy challenges in Mexican politics, especially regarding cartel violence, sovereignty, and rule of law.
