Argentine lawmakers probing the Libra cryptocurrency affair are escalating pressure on prosecutor Eduardo Taiano, filing two complaints that accuse him of obstructing the investigation and covering up evidence. Newly surfaced information suggests a deeper link between President Javier Milei and Mauricio Novelli, a key figure behind the token's launch.
Two Complaints Target Prosecutor's Conduct
The first complaint alleges Taiano rejected a congressional request to compel government officials to clarify their ties to the token and refused to let the commission access recently unsealed case files, hindering legislative work. The second, more serious charge claims Taiano deliberately concealed evidence to protect President Milei, his sister Karina Milei, and other members of the presidential circle.
Maximiliano Ferraro, former president of the investigative commission, directly implicated Milei, calling him the "protagonist and necessary participant" in what he described as a "multi-million-dollar act of corruption and misappropriation of the presidential office." On social media, 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."
Ferraro also demanded that Milei, Karina, former Chief of Staff of Advisors Demian Reidel, and advisor Santiago Caputo disclose all communications with Novelli on the day of Libra's launch. The commission will further push for the interpellation of Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni and Secretary Karina Milei.
Key Breakthrough: $5 Million Agreement Draft Found on Seized Phone
Investigators recovered a draft of a $5 million economic agreement from a seized phone, allegedly intended to secure Milei's endorsement of Libra. Taiano now stands at the center of the storm, with lawmakers arguing he has deliberately slowed the case to protect the president. Ferraro said the legislature cannot allow "a prosecutor who may be covering up for the president to continue leading the investigation." The commission plans to formally request a change of prosecutor and may refer Taiano's conduct to the prosecutorial council.
The Milei administration has not yet responded to the complaints. Analysts warn that if Taiano is found to have engaged in a cover-up, the political and legal fallout for Milei could be severe, turning the Libra scandal from a niche crypto controversy into a full-blown political crisis.