Mexico’s President Sheinbaum takes legal action after public groping incident

President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female head of state, has filed legal charges against a man accused of groping and harassing her during a public event in Mexico City. Sheinbaum called the incident “an assault on all women,” emphasizing that no woman should tolerate harassment in any form.

According to city officials, the man described by Sheinbaum as “completely drunk” was arrested overnight and remains in custody at the Sex Crimes Investigation Unit. The attack occurred Tuesday when the man pushed through a crowd gathered to greet the president in the Zócalo district and touched her inappropriately before attempting to kiss her. One of Sheinbaum’s aides, Juan José Ramírez Mendoza, intervened immediately to stop the assault.

Public outrage and renewed debate

Footage of the incident went viral, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed debate over women’s safety in public spaces and politics.

Authorities revealed that preliminary investigations linked the same individual to two other harassment cases reported that day.

“Sheinbaum’s decision to press charges is a symbolic stand for all women who face harassment,” said Mayor Clara Brugada, who confirmed the arrest.

Sheinbaum: ‘No Man Has the Right to Violate That Space’

Speaking on Wednesday, Sheinbaum explained her decision to press charges:

“I decided to act because this is something I experienced as a woman something all women in our country experience. No man has the right to violate that space.”

The president also revealed that this was not the first time she faced harassment, recalling experiences of sexual harassment as a student and young commuter. In 2021, she shared a personal story during International Women’s Day, recounting being harassed on public transport at age 12.

Security questions after the incident

The event has reignited discussions about presidential security. Sheinbaum, following the example of her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has refused to reinstate the Presidential Guard, which was dissolved in 2018.

Security analysts, however, say this approach may leave top officials exposed.

“After the dissolution of the Presidential Guard, no specialized security system was rebuilt,” said Raúl Benítez-Manaut, a national security expert. “Sheinbaum relies on aides, not a professional security unit.”

In response, Sheinbaum defended her decision:

“We can’t stay far from the people, that would deny who we are. Our aides will continue to accompany us, but we must remain close to citizens.

Government Response: ‘Harassment is a crime’

The Secretariat for Women condemned the attack, stating that physical contact without consent is a crime and not excusable by public proximity.

“Unfortunately, no woman is exempt from sexual harassment in our country,” the ministry said. “These acts must not be trivialized denouncing them is fundamental to justice and cultural change.”

Sheinbaum announced plans to launch a national campaign against harassment and review criminal laws across Mexican states to ensure harassment is fully prosecutable nationwide.

A broader crisis

The incident underscores a widespread issue: nearly 70% of Mexican women aged 15 and older have faced at least one form of violence, and 49% report sexual violence, according to a 2021 survey by INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography).

From public transport to political spaces, harassment remains a major social challenge. Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) documented over 500 cases of violence against women in politics between 2020 and 2025.

Mexico City’s Mayor Brugada said the president’s response should be seen as a call to confront misogyny head-on: