Ex-lawmaker accused of money laundering appears before Argentina's Justice

Former Argentine legislator José Luis Espert appeared before the judiciary on Tuesday to present his defense against accusations of money laundering for a criminal organization. Espert, who was a lawmaker for President Javier Milei's party, denied any wrongdoing in a written statement submitted to the court.

However, Espert opted not to testify or answer questions during his appearance, invoking his constitutional right to remain silent. His legal team stated that he reserved his right to declare and respond to each point of the accusation once conditions for a fair trial are guaranteed. Espert was previously a candidate for the ruling party, La Libertad Avanza, in the 2025 legislative elections.

He was formally accused in October 2025, the same month as the elections, after revelations that he received $200,000 from a company associated with Federico Andrés Machado. Machado is facing charges in the United States for offenses including criminal association, drug trafficking, money laundering, and electronic fraud. The scandal forced Espert to withdraw his candidacy at the last minute, being replaced on the ballot.