Overview

• José Luis Espert said he received US$200,000 in 2020 from a company linked to Federico “Fred” Machado as an advance for consulting to the Guatemalan miner Minas del Pueblo, not as campaign funding.
• Accounting records from Bank of America used in a Texas case document the transfer to an account in Espert’s name, while Argentine justice records show he flew on Machado’s plane repeatedly during the 2019 campaign.
• President Javier Milei publicly endorsed Espert and dismissed the case as an opposition operation, as Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Chief of Cabinet Guillermo Francos pressed for a clearer explanation.
• Espert asserted the money was wired to his U.S. account and declared in Argentina, described the work as preparatory, cited strict U.S. banking controls, and denied receiving funds of illicit origin.
• A complaint filed by Juan Grabois remains active, media scrutiny continues, and Espert’s candidacy stands ahead of the October 26 legislative elections.