Argentina: Judge orders new testimony in former president's gender violence case

A federal judge is seeking further testimony from former President Alberto Fernández's security detail as part of an ongoing gender violence case.

Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas has ordered statements from bodyguards who served Fernández, following guidelines from the Federal Chamber. The Chamber instructed Rafecas to re-evaluate the case against Fernández, who is accused of threatening and assaulting his former partner, Fabiola Yañez. The accusations include allegations of threats and causing minor and serious injuries.

Fernández was initially processed by Federal Judge Julián Ercolini, a decision later upheld by the Federal Chamber. However, Fernández successfully challenged Ercolini, leading to the case being transferred to Rafecas. His legal team also requested the annulment of his processing, which was rejected, but the Chamber did order additional evidence gathering requested by his lawyer.

Specifically, Rafecas has requested that the Federal Police identify and lift secrecy restrictions for former bodyguards Diego Leonardo Sandrini, Darrío Biloni, Eduardo José Argenta, and Alejandro Pablo Brezezina. He has also requested digital copies of Fabiola Yañez's medical records from the Otamendi sanatorium between 2018 and 2024. Federal Prosecutor Ramiro González had previously requested that the case proceed to trial, citing evidence of Fernández allegedly causing a bruise on Yañez's arm and striking her in the face, resulting in an eye injury, in separate incidents in 2021.

Yañez initiated the criminal action against Fernández in August 2024, after private conversations detailing alleged mistreatment were made public. In these recordings, she described incidents of physical abuse, including being grabbed by the neck and kicked in the stomach while potentially pregnant, and suffering bruises on her eye and arm.