Overview
- The Presidency instructed the Foreign Ministry, Legal Secretariat and Cabinet to execute the Supreme Court–approved extradition of Federico “Fred” Machado.
- Argentina’s top court declared the U.S. request procedurally valid, with charges in Texas that include cocaine trafficking conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud.
- Police raided Machado’s residence near Viedma and relocated him to a detention facility pending handover to U.S. Marshals under timelines set by Argentina’s extradition law.
- Federal prosecutor Fernando Domínguez formally imputed José Luis Espert for alleged money laundering tied to a US$200,000 transfer documented in U.S. court and bank records.
- Machado publicly acknowledged paying Espert and criticized his denials, while polling shows the episode eroding confidence in the governing coalition ahead of the Oct. 26 vote.