Argentina’s Milei dismisses US-linked narco allegations against ally as ‘political smear’
Argentine President Javier Milei has come to the defence of lawmaker José Luis Espert after opposition figures accused him of ties to an alleged drug trafficker, citing findings from a US investigation.
Speaking in a television interview, Milei brushed off the accusations as “salon gossip” and framed them as part of a recurring pattern of political attacks ahead of Argentina’s October 26 elections.
According to court records in Texas, Espert allegedly received $200,000 in February 2020 from a trust connected to Fred Machado, a fugitive accused of drug trafficking, and Debora Lynn Mercer-Erwin, who is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in the United States for narcotics, money laundering, and fraud.
Milei, however, dismissed the reports as recycled accusations. “They did this in 2019, they did it in 2021. It’s a methodology — smear campaigns to create noise during elections,” he said. The president argued the timing of the revelations is politically motivated and urged observers to await the outcome of US judicial proceedings.
He also linked the allegations to what he described as broader “political franchises” used by opponents in Latin America, accusing Argentina’s opposition of resorting to “tricks” whenever they feel threatened. “My hope is that over time people recognise this modus operandi,” he added.
The controversy adds to growing scrutiny of Milei’s inner circle, as the president has also been forced to defend his sister, Karina Milei, against separate corruption allegations. With less than a month until the elections, the dispute underscores the volatile mix of judicial investigations and political battles shaping Argentina’s campaign season.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
