From trips to unexplained wealth – the scandals that led to Manuel Adorni's resignation

Manuel Adorni has resigned as Cabinet chief after more than three months of growing controversy over his finances, official travel and personal spending.

Official trips

One of the earliest controversies centred on the decision to allow Adorni's wife, Bettina Angeletti, to travel to New York aboard the presidential aircraft during President Javier Milei's visit to the United States.

Opposition figures questioned whether public funds had been used to finance the trip, although Adorni denied any wrongdoing, saying the invitation had come directly from the President.

Attention then shifted to a private flight to Punta del Este in Uruguay taken by Adorni, his wife and their children. The focus quickly became who had paid for the journey, which was later attributed to TV Pública journalist and Adorni friend Marcelo Grandío, who also travelled.

"Everyone paid their share. He paid for his four tickets, US$3,600 in total, and I paid US$800 because that was my share," Grandío said of the flight, which departed from San Fernando airfield north of Buenos Aires.

The case deepened after witnesses told investigators the flights had been paid for in cash and invoices were allegedly cancelled and reissued. Prosecutors have been unable to find records confirming Adorni's claim that he reimbursed his share of the cost.

Growing wealth

Pressure intensified as investigators turned their attention to Adorni's personal finances, with the rapid growth in his declared assets prompting allegations of possible illicit enrichment.

Journalistic investigations identified a flat in Buenos Aires City's Caballito neighbourhood and a house in the Indio Cuá gated community among his reported assets.

Adorni insisted his wealth had been accumulated during more than 25 years in the private sector, but it later emerged the properties had been financed through a series of privately arranged loans rather than conventional bank mortgages, prompting further scrutiny.

Last week prosecutors sought to lift banking and tax secrecy protections covering Adorni and his wife, Julieta Bettina Angeletti, allowing investigators to examine bank accounts, loans, fixed-term deposits, credit card spending and digital wallets.

Investigators are also examining whether some properties were omitted from Adorni's public asset declarations and the role played by the notaries involved in the transactions.

"Everything that has to be declared has been properly declared with every relevant authority," Adorni said in a television interview.

Credit card spending, cryptocurrency and gaming

Questions also emerged over Adorni's credit card spending, which appeared difficult to reconcile with his declared income.

His card spending reportedly exceeded 85 million pesos during 2025, averaging 7.1 million pesos a month, roughly double his gross monthly public salary of 3.5 million pesos at the time.

Investigators are also examining cryptocurrency transactions and previously undisclosed overseas travel that they believe could point to spending beyond his declared means.

Last week, reports also revealed thousands of dollars in gaming-related purchases allegedly made by Adorni using credit cards issued to officials working under him, adding another line of scrutiny to the widening investigation.

– TIMES/NA