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October 13, 2025 – Mexico –
Mexican press freedom group Artículo 19 has raised alarm over alleged intimidation by Senator Ricardo Sheffield against journalist Antonio Nieto following the publication of a probing exposé. The contested report, published on La Silla Rota, detailed claims from a protected witness that linked Sheffield, his successor at the consumer protection agency, and multiple officials to a network of corruption.
In response to the article, Sheffield publicly denied the existence of any investigation and accused Nieto of fabricating the narrative. According to Artículo 19, Sheffield then messaged Nieto via WhatsApp with the phrase “nos vemos en los tribunales” (“see you in court”). Following this, Nieto reportedly began receiving ominous messages via social media advising him not to travel to Guanajuato — the senator’s home state.
Nieto is not new to facing threats. For five years, he has been under the protection of Mexico’s Federal Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists due to prior harassment. In light of the newly alleged intimidation, Artículo 19 has called on the protection body to assess and intensify his security posture. The organization also urged the Senate to publicly condemn intimidation of the press and take steps to preserve journalistic freedom.
Observers see this incident as symptomatic of deeper systemic challenges faced by Mexican journalists. Institutional threats from those in power not only jeopardize individual safety but also chill investigative reporting overall. Because a significant share of attacks against journalists in Mexico is believed to originate from state or political actors, the stakes are particularly high when elected officials allegedly issue threats.
The clash between Sheffield and Nieto underscores the precarious balance in Mexico’s media environment: journalists persist in probing power, while political figures may respond not just with denials but with legal pressure and intimidation. The case invites renewed scrutiny over how protection mechanisms function in practice, how impunity for threats is addressed, and how much institutional risk journalists must bear to uncover accountability.
Reference –
Mexican journalist is allegedly threatened by senator over article, Article 19 reports
