Removed for foreign service and workplace violations
Tucson consul Guillermo Rivera Santos was removed from his post on February 7 following charges of partisanship in diplomatic relations and sexual harassment.
Appointment
Rivera Santos was appointed titular consul on September 20, 2019 and became consul on November 15. At the time his appointment was criticized because he had no foreign service experience.
Mexican news outlet SinEmbargo reported that Rivera Santos, who is a member of the Nogales Morena party, met with Morena party representatives on Monday after the Friday when he took office.
The Mexican foreign service law forbids acts of partisanship in diplomatic relations.
Attacking news coverage
On November 26 SinEmbargo published a story about his meeting with party officials, “More Morenista than Consul.”
According to SinEmbargo, Rivera Santos indignantly complained about the article in a letter to the publication’s editor and held a meeting outside of the consulate to discuss how to smear SinEmbargo.
Following that revelation, Dolia Estévez, the writer of the story appealed to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to request protection.
Foreign service committee investigation
In December, Rivera Santos was summoned by the Mexican foreign service to testify in a committee investigation into the charges of political partisanship.
He was also questioned in relation to a complaint filed by his personal assistant that alleges labor and sexual harassment.
And according to the February 2 SinEmbargo story others testified to a toxic work environment within the consulate and how Rivera Santos’s lack of preparation harmed international relations.
Acting Tucson Consul
Enrique Gómez, a diplomat and member of the foreign service who was attached as a consul to the Tucson consulate is the acting titular head of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson.