Overview

• A Bank of America evidence sheet from a U.S. case lists a $200,000 transfer dated January 22, 2020 associated with José Luis Espert, including a code tied to a plane linked to Federico “Fred” Machado.
• Espert acknowledged the payment in a video and said it was a lawful consultancy fee for Minas del Pueblo, rejecting allegations of illicit conduct.
• Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said Espert must keep providing explanations, as President Javier Milei publicly backed the candidate’s defense.
• Opposition blocs scheduled a vote to strip Espert of the Budget and Finance Committee chairmanship and are canvassing support for possible suspension or expulsion, with some allies urging a replacement.
• In a separate case, a federal court in Tartagal charged an ex-provincial deputy and five others over aggravated smuggling of more than 15,000 tonnes of grain to Bolivia, ordered five preventive detentions, seized assets, and sought an international arrest for alleged leader Pablo Emanuel Arequipa.