Overview

• Federal prosecutor Fernando Domínguez formally accused José Luis Espert of alleged money laundering tied to a $200,000 transfer traced in Bank of America records to a Machado-linked firm.
• Police raided Machado’s residence in Viedma on Wednesday as he was moved from house arrest to federal custody pending transfer after the Supreme Court cleared his extradition.
• The Presidency directed administrative and diplomatic steps to extradite Machado to the United States, where he faces charges including cocaine trafficking, money laundering, wire fraud and export violations.
• Newly reported documents describe a June 7, 2019 consultancy contract for up to $1,000,000 between Espert and Machado’s Guatemala-based Minas del Pueblo, with an immediate $100,000 payment schedule overlapping the campaign period.
• Security ministry reports sent to U.S. Homeland Security in 2021–2022 stated Machado financed Espert’s 2019 campaign and provided air transport, and Espert has since resigned his candidacy.