Mexican Mayor Accused of Faking Her Kidnapping

A small-city mayor in central Mexico is accused of staging her own abduction to reap more than $2 million in public funds as ransom, prosecutors say. Nancy Napoles, the mayor of Tenancingo and a member of of President Claudia Sheinbaum's ruling Morena party, allegedly worked with her husband and brother-in-law to simulate the kidnapping, reports CBS News. She denies the accusations, calling the case politically driven and pledging to cooperate with investigators.

The supposed kidnapping occurred on May 30, according to Democrata. Investigators later flagged inconsistencies in Napoles' account and released images of what they contend was the staged crime. Authorities say the ruse was designed to claim public money that "was already embezzled."