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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican prosecutors said Wednesday that they have opened a criminal investigation of a leader of Mexico's Green Party for allegedly violating electoral laws in June's midterm elections.
Prosecutors did not identify the official, but a statement posted on the Twitter account of Green Party leader Arturo Escobar said he had resigned his post as a government undersecretary for crime prevention. A federal official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name, confirmed that Escobar is the subject of the investigation.
In a statement, the Ecologist Green Party denied that Escobar had done anything wrong.
The party was accused of illegal advertising practices and offering gifts or gift cards during the campaign. Those are prohibited by law.
The criminal investigation centers on possible gifts or donations by business interests, suggesting the case involves discount cars or some other form of in-kind donation.
A judge has 10 days to decide whether the case merits issuing an arrest warrant for Escobar.
The probe is surprising in light of the fact the Green Party has been a solid ally of President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party.
The Green Party had been fined by electoral authorities several times for violations of electoral procedures.
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