MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Specialised prosecutors appeal Milei’s dismissal in the $LIBRA case and seek to reopen it

According to the prosecutors, the investigation is not exhausted

Argentina’s Office of Administrative Investigations, a specialised prosecution service for crimes committed by public officials, has appealed the dismissal of charges against President Javier Milei, his sister and presidential chief of staff Karina Milei, and nine other defendants in the case over the $LIBRA cryptocurrency, and asked for the investigation to be reopened, arguing that key evidence is still missing.

The office, headed by prosecutor Sergio Rodríguez, joined the case and took over the criminal prosecution, which had been dropped by prosecutor Eduardo Taiano when he requested the dismissals later granted by federal judge Marcelo Martínez De Giorgi. Besides seeking to reopen the case, it filed a subsidiary appeal so that, if the request is rejected, the Federal Appeals Court can review the decision.

According to the prosecutors, the investigation is not exhausted. Pending steps include tracing the funds, recovering and analysing communications, investigating possible commercial agreements and examining the money movements linked to the case. They also question that the evidence was assessed piece by piece rather than as a whole, and argue that technical difficulties or incomplete responses cannot justify closing the case. They also propose examining whether the president’s conduct could amount to the crime of conflicts of interest in the exercise of public office.

The filing responds to a request from two organisations acting in the case as friends of the court, the Centre for the Investigation and Prevention of Economic Crime and the Institute of Comparative Studies in Criminal and Social Sciences, which had criticised Taiano’s handling of the case, including his refusal to summon Milei for questioning. The decision now rests with Federal Court No. 8, temporarily headed by Judge Daniel Rafecas while Martínez De Giorgi is on leave. The investors who lost money, removed from their role as plaintiffs, have also appealed and are awaiting a ruling from the Federal Court of Criminal Cassation.

In February 2025, Milei shared the $LIBRA cryptocurrency on X; its value soared and collapsed within hours, causing losses for thousands of investors. The president deleted the post, denied promoting the project and has rejected any wrongdoing.