Scandal-hit lawmaker Espert seeks leave of absence from lower house

Caught in the midst of a scandal, La Libertad Avanza national deputy José Luis Espert has taken a “leave of absence” from the lower house Chamber of Deputies.

Espert, 63, made his request during a session of the lower house on Wednesday. Citing “personal reasons” in a short statement to Congress Speaker Martín Menem, he asked to be placed on leave until December 8 – the day before his term in office ends.

It is unknown if Espert will be paid during his time off. The request must still be voted on by the lower house, which according to house rules will decide “whether the requested leave will be granted with or without pay.”

The move comes after the libertarian politician withdrew his candidacy for the ruling party in the upcoming national legislative elections and resigned from his position as head of the Lower House Budget and Finance Committee.

The lawmaker is at the centre of an ongoing media scandal after revelations emerged of his ties to Federico Andrés ‘Fred’ Machado, an Argentine businessman who faces accusations of fraud, drug-trafficking and money-laundering in the US courts.

Machado is currently awaiting extradition to the United States, though he has appealed the Supreme Court ruling confirming the request.

President Javier Milei’s government, which took office vowing transparency and to tackle corruption, has said it will comply with the court order.

On Tuesday, a federal prosecutor in San Isidro opened an investigation into Espert for alleged money-laundering relating to the US$200,000-payment that the economist received in 2020 from a Guatemalan company linked to Machado.

A complaint filed against the libertarian deputy alleges that he received “at least 200,000 US dollars into his account from a criminal organisation that formed part of mafia structures linked to drug-trafficking, which is currently being tried in the criminal court of the Eastern District of Texas, United States,” confirmed Fernando Domínguez, the prosecutor leading the case.

Espert continues to insist on his innocence and has denounced what he calls a “political operation” against him. 

New documents emerged on Wednesday showing that Machado and Espert agreed a US$1-million 12-month contract in June 2019 for professional services and consultancy work.

The contract, published by the Newstad media outlet, indicates that the duo agreed on an initial payment of US$100,000, which was to be paid "at the time of signing.” In addition, "nine consecutive and equal monthly instalments" of US$100,000 each were to follow, "starting the month after the signing" of the agreement, to be made by "bank transfer".

Machado signed the contract as a "representative" of Minas del Pueblo, the Guatemalan company he co-owns, which is also currently under investigation by the US justice system. 

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL