A new scandal has erupted in Mexico involving the Supreme Court. It concerns the expensive purchase of judicial robes, which contradicts the government's stated policy of "republican austerity." In 2021, Loretta Ortiz ordered three robes for a total of 75,000 pesos, nearly 21,000 pesos each. Following the scandal over armored and luxury vehicles, a new investigation revealed that court members purchased robes for a total of 294,574 pesos. As reported by Froji MX MX, just weeks after the judicial elections, the new figures of the Supreme Court acquired six robes for 160,080 pesos, meaning each one cost 26,680 pesos. Meanwhile, in 2023, upon joining the court, Lenia Batres did the same, but for a total of 84,000 pesos. Gertz Manero was sworn in as the new ambassador to the United Kingdom. Thus, the two scandals that have erupted in recent hours and are directly hitting the new Supreme Court are impacting the ruling party led by Claudia Sheinbaum, as they contradict the "republican austerity" message of the 4T, with which many of the now-targeted figures ran a large part of their campaign. A total of 294,574 pesos were spent on just twelve robes. Ministers are returning their Grand Cherokees amid the crisis over the 4T's luxury. According to the investigation, the figures involved in these purchases were the president of the court, Hugo Aguilar; Estela Ríos; Giovani Figueroa; Irving Espinosa; Arístides Guerrero; and Sara Herrerías. Additionally, in September of the same year, after its members had assumed their duties, the body made another acquisition of six more robes for 134,467 pesos. Meanwhile, Lenia Batres, Loretta Ortiz, and Jasmín Esquivel did not participate in the purchase because they already had the regulatory uniform from their previous term as the highest officials of the country's most important judicial body. In any case, in the past, the three of them also participated in the purchase of expensive robes. For example, the head of the body, Hugo Aguilar, promised not to wear a robe during his term as a sign of change. However, he is one of those pointed out for these costly purchases. Furthermore, he objects to the recent communiqué through which the high court announced the return of the luxury Jeep Cherokee vehicles, valued at 1.7 million pesos after the scandal that broke out this weekend. The new court that emerged from the first judicial elections held in the country is not going through its best moments. "We reiterate our commitment to the efficient and responsible use of the people's resources, as well as the permanent work to achieve real and true justice," the ministers stated. However, hours later, they were once again in the eye of the storm.
