Argentine lawmakers who investigated the controversial Libra cryptocurrency incident are escalating their efforts to remove the federal prosecutor in charge of the case, Eduardo Taiano, after newly released information revealed deeper ties between President Javier Milei and Mauricio Novelli, a key figure behind the token launch.
Congressional Complaints Target Prosecutor for Obstruction
The congressional commission that probed the Libra event is preparing two formal complaints against Taiano. The first accuses him of obstructing Congress’s work—he rejected a request to compel government officials to clarify their links to the token and denied the commission access to recently unsealed case files. The second complaint alleges that Taiano was covering up evidence to shield President Milei, his sister Karian Milei, and other members of the presidential inner circle from scrutiny.
Maximiliano Ferraro, former president of the commission, directly implicated President Milei as the “protagonist and necessary participant” of 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.”
Demand for Communications and Cabinet Interpellation
Ferraro has called for President Milei, his sister Karina, chief of staff Demian Reidel, and advisor Santiago Caputo to disclose all their communications with Mauricio Novelli on the day of Libra’s launch. Additionally, lawmakers will push for the interpellation of Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni and Secretary Karina Milei.
Earlier, investigators recovered a draft of a $5 million economic agreement from a seized phone, allegedly intended to secure President Milei’s support for Libra. This discovery has further inflamed the political battle.
All indications suggest the Libra case is at a breaking point, with prosecutor Taiano at the center. If the complaints succeed, he could be removed from the investigation, potentially shifting the balance in a case that threatens to implicate Argentina’s highest office.