Argentine legislators are escalating their investigation into the Libra cryptocurrency incident after newly revealed data pointed to deeper ties between President Javier Milei and Mauricio Novelli, an associate behind the token launch. The congressional commission that probed the affair is now taking direct aim at federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano, filing two separate complaints over his handling of the case.
Two Complaints: Obstruction and Cover-Up
The first complaint accuses Taiano of obstructing Congress’s work. He rejected a request that would have forced government officials to clarify their links to the Libra token and denied the commission access to recently unsealed case files. The second complaint goes further, alleging that Taiano deliberately suppressed evidence to shield President Milei, his sister Karian Milei, and other individuals within the presidential orbit.
Maximiliano Ferraro, former president of the investigative commission, did not mince words. He described Milei as the “protagonist and necessary participant” of what he called a “multi-million-dollar act of corruption and misappropriation of the presidential office.” In a social media post, Ferraro stated: “There was direct coordination between fringe operators within the crypto world and the President of the Nation’s inner circle, who leveraged his office and power to promote the cryptocurrency in exchange for payments amounting to millions.”
Demands for Disclosure and Interpellation
Ferraro has called on the court to compel Milei, his sister Karina, former Chief of Staff of Advisors Demian Reidel, and presidential advisor Santiago Caputo to disclose all their communications with Novelli on the day of the Libra launch. Additionally, lawmakers plan to push for the interpellation of Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni and Secretary Karina Milei, seeking their testimony before Congress.
The case took a dramatic turn when investigators recovered a draft of a $5 million economic agreement from a seized phone, allegedly intended to secure Milei’s support for Libra. This discovery has fueled allegations that the president personally profited from promoting the token.
A Breaking Point for the Investigation
All signs indicate that the Libra case is reaching a critical juncture, with prosecutor Taiano at the center of the storm. If the complaints against him succeed, it could lead not only to his removal but also force the Milei administration to confront corruption charges head-on. President Milei has previously defended his involvement with Libra as support for innovation, but the new evidence suggests a quid pro quo arrangement with Novelli.
Argentina’s Congress remains divided on cryptocurrency regulation, but the Libra probe could become a landmark event that reshapes the legal landscape. Analysts warn that regardless of the outcome, the scandal has already damaged Milei’s credibility and may influence future crypto policies in the country.