The former Undersecretary of Tourism during Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration, Simón Levy, stated that Juan Pablo Penilla Rodríguez was appointed honorary advisor in the Tamaulipas government in 2023, which was evidenced in documents held by the State Department. Levy pointed out the direct relationship of Penilla Rodríguez, legal representative of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, with Américo Villarreal, governor of Tamaulipas, who appointed him as advisor.
In 2023, Penilla Rodríguez also received recognition as 'International Ambassador for Peace' during the National Award for Professional Excellence ceremony. However, the Tamaulipas government clarified that Penilla Rodríguez is not a public servant nor an honorary advisor to the State Executive, and shared the annulment of the appointment for the lawyer in January 2024, following an assessment of proposals from civil organizations.
The national leadership of Morena, for its part, distanced itself from Juan Pablo Penilla Rodríguez, after he was linked to the party. The president of Morena, Luisa María Alcalde, indicated that there is no record of Penilla Rodríguez's involvement in the legal advisory of the 2024 electoral campaign. Alcalde emphasized that the party's commitment is to the truth and the principles established by President López Obrador.
Juan Pablo Penilla Rodríguez was mentioned in a letter sent by Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada to the Government of Mexico and to President Claudia Sheinbaum, requesting his repatriation. In the document, Zambada names Penilla Rodríguez as his legal advisor in case his repatriation process is carried out.
