Key facts
- Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni resigned on Saturday, June 27.
- Adorni is under investigation for illicit enrichment, misuse of public funds, bribery, and influence peddling.
- The probe includes alleged cash payments of $245,000 for home renovations and suspicious expenditures totaling $725,000.
- Investigators are reviewing Adorni's personal and family travel expenses to various destinations.
- Adorni's public approval rating has fallen significantly, with 70% of Argentines disapproving of him.
Argentine President Javier Milei's Cabinet chief, Manuel Adorni, resigned on Saturday, June 27, following a scandal involving allegations of illicit enrichment, misuse of public funds, bribery, and influence peddling. Adorni, a close confidant of Milei, was appointed to the influential position in November and previously served as the president's spokesperson.
The investigation, gaining momentum after court documents revealed alleged cash payments totaling approximately $245,000 for renovations to Adorni's home, centers on a series of foreign travel, real estate transactions, and financial movements. Prosecutors are reviewing suspicious expenditures and financial movements estimated at roughly $725,000, believing they exceed Adorni's declared income.
The case expanded to include personal and family trips to destinations such as Aruba, Punta del Este, and Bariloche, as well as Adorni's real estate dealings. Part of these acquisitions may have been financed through private loans and cash payments outside the traditional banking system. The investigation began after Adorni's wife joined an official delegation on a trip to New York in March.
Adorni's public image has suffered significantly, with seven in 10 Argentines disapproving of him, a decline that has also impacted Milei's popularity. Despite the scrutiny, Milei has publicly supported Adorni, indicating he would not sacrifice one of his trusted allies. Adorni was preparing to deliver a management report to Congress, facing intense questioning from the opposition regarding his growing assets and the country's economic situation, which is marked by rising inflation and unemployment.