- cross-posted to:
- world@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- world@lemmy.world
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine police on Friday raided over a dozen luxury homes and offices including the headquarters of a national agency charged with providing disability benefits, an official said, escalating a corruption investigation that threatens to ensnarl the closest advisors of libertarian President Javier Milei, including his powerful sister Karina.
Ordered by federal judge Sebastián Casanello, the operation targeted 15 locations in and around the capital of Buenos Aires as fallout spread from audio recordings leaked to local media purporting to show Diego Spagnuolo, President Milei’s personal lawyer and the head of the country’s disability agency, describing a kickback scheme tied to government health contracts that funneled money to top officials.
An Argentine official with knowledge of the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly, gave details of Friday’s raids to The Associated Press.
It’s not the first time Milei’s inner circle has been accused of taking bribes. The first big scandal of his presidency erupted earlier this year after he promoted an unknown cryptocurrency token called $LIBRA that shot up in value after his endorsement then cratered, prompting dozens of criminal complaints alleging fraud from Buenos Aires to New York City.