Overview
- The Oral Federal Tribunal No. 7 opened proceedings Thursday with the reading of the indictment, and Fernández de Kirchner connected by Zoom from her home detention.
- A total of 87 defendants—including former officials Julio De Vido, José López and Roberto Baratta, plus about 65 businessmen—are charged over roughly 540 alleged payoff episodes.
- Judges Enrique Méndez Signori, Fernando Canero and Germán Castelli set weekly virtual hearings with YouTube transmission for the first month and an additional hearing day starting March 2026.
- The opening session experienced audio and camera problems, leading the court to pause, require all accused to appear on screen, and then resume the reading.
- Prosecutor Fabiana León describes the case as Argentina’s most extensive corruption probe, while Fernández de Kirchner called it “another judicial show” and defenses are poised to challenge the notebooks and collaborator testimonies.