President Javier Milei targeted the press on Sunday, publicly defending former national lawmaker José Luis Espert, who he said had been the victim of a “political and media operation.”
Argentina’s head of state delivered his remarks on social media, claiming that Espert had been “defamed” and “publicly convicted without evidence,” as he used the case to intensify his attacks on journalists and political figures critical of his government.
The backdrop to the latest attack was news linked to a US court case involving Argentine financier Federico ‘Fred’ Machado, who is under investigation in the United States for money-laundering and drug-trafficking.
According to reports, Machado has agreed to a plea bargain deal that will see the drug-trafficking charge dropped by prosecutors.
Espert withdrew his candidacy for Congress ahead of the October 2025 elections after becoming embroiled in controversy over his links to Machado.
The liberal economist, who was due to top La Libertad Avanza’s list of candidates in Buenos Aires Province, came under scrutiny following reports of a US$200,000 transfer from Machado and his use of private aircraft and other benefits provided by the businessman.
Espert admitted receiving the payment, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the funds were an advance payment from a Guatemalan mining company for private economic consultancy work.
Machado was extradited to the United States in November 2025. According to US media reports, the financier has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Texas.
As part of the deal, Machado will plead guilty to money-laundering and tax fraud offences, but the drug-trafficking charge – the allegation with the greatest domestic political impact – will be dropped by US prosecutors.
Milei seized on that point Sunday to argue that the accusations against Espert were unjust and formed part of a campaign to destroy the economist’s reputation.
“Finally, the United States justice system accepted the declaration of innocence regarding the drug-trafficking accusations levelled against the person used to attack and smear José Luis Espert,” Milei wrote on his X account.
The President said Espert had been “pushed into ostracism,” claiming the media had “tried to turn him into a criminal through an infamous political and media operation.”
“They completely destroyed an innocent man. They ruined his life, destroyed his political career and sought to destroy one of the few people who had spent more than 20 years defending the ideas of liberty in Argentina,” claimed the President, adding one of his regular attack lines: “This is why we do not hate journalists enough.”
Machado’s deal still requires judicial approval, which could come this week, according to US media.
The agreement, which could lead to a reduced sentence, represents a U-turn for the financier, whose lawyers initially pleaded not guilty to all charges following his extradition to the United States last November.
The deal does not establish a specific sentence for Machado, though people close to the businessman hope to secure a significant reduction and possibly even his release within months, reported local media.
Milei’s assault on the press and “shit journalists,” as he wrote in his social media post, is the latest in a long line of attacks delivered by the President since taking office in December 2023.
Espert has kept a low profile since withdrawing his candidacy for La Libertad Avanza last year.
He still faces two open investigations: one in the Federal Court of San Isidro, where prosecutor Fernando Domínguez is examining the US$200,000-transfer allegedly made by Machado to one of Espert’s bank accounts in the United States, and another in Buenos Aires City linked to the financing of the economist’s 2019 election campaign.
Prosecutors have questioned the lack of material evidence supporting the alleged “mining consultancy in Guatemala” that Espert claims justified the payment. Investigators are also examining undeclared benefits, including the use of private aircraft and a vehicle allegedly provided by Machado.
Following Machado’s admission of guilt on money-laundering charges in the United States, the US$200,000-transfer to Espert could potentially be considered part of a criminal scheme by Argentine investigators.
The relationship between the two men became public last year after photographs and videos from Espert’s 2019 election campaign resurfaced. One of the best-known recordings shows the economist at Machado’s home in Viedma, where the businessman was serving house arrest.
Milei and Espert have shared an often turbulent relationship, marked by rivalry, ideological alignment and eventual reconciliation. Both emerged as prominent libertarian voices in Argentina during the late 2010s but their relationship deteriorated ahead of the 2023 elections, when Espert aligned himself with Patricia Bullrich.
Following Milei’s election victory, the President moved to rebuild ties with Espert, bringing him into the ruling coalition ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
– TIMES/PERFIL
