MEXICO CITY (Reuters – Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador defended the decision last week to reveal the purported salary for a prominent journalist. The move was widely criticized at a time when journalists’ safety is being heightened.

Lopez Obrador revealed Friday what he believed to be the 2021 salary for journalist Carlos Loret de Mola. Loret de Mola has previously published details of a Texas home rented out by the son of President Donald Trump that was owned and occupied by an executive of a company dealing with the state-owned oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos.

Lopez Obrador stated that media outlets were “entities in public interest” when he was asked by a reporter if he believes his decision to publish the salary purportedly earned by a private citizen.

He said, “He who doesn’t have anything to hide has nothing to fear.”

Loret stated last week that the president had placed him at risk by his actions, and that salary data in every case were inaccurate.

Lopez Beltran stated that he made his entire living as a legal advisor for KEI Partners.

According to the president, KEI Partners was owned by Daniel Chavez’s children. Chavez is a businessman that is advising Lopez Obrador in a large infrastructure project.

Lopez Obrador claimed Loret’s reports were meant to weaken him and his efforts to get rid of corruption in Mexico.

This is amidst a vicious streak of attacks on Mexico’s media. Five journalists were killed between 2022 and 2023.