WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have written a letter to President Biden urging his administration to take immediate action to hold former Argentinian Vice President Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner and her family members accountable for acts of significant corruption.
In their letter, the senators described Fernández de Kirchner as a "convicted kleptocrat who stole billions from state coffers and enabled malign actors like China and Iran to deepen their corrupt influence in a critical U.S. ally, Argentina." They highlighted that she was found guilty by an Argentina federal court on December 6, 2022, of overseeing and profiting over $1 billion from fraudulently issued government contracts for public infrastructure during her time as president. Fernández de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison and "special disqualification for life" from seeking public office.
The senators emphasized the importance of holding Fernández de Kirchner accountable to strengthen bilateral relations with Argentina and counter mutual security threats posed by corruption. They highlighted recent developments in ongoing corruption cases against her, including the reopening of the "Route of the K money" money laundering probe by the Argentine federal appeals court. One of her close associates, Lázaro Báez, has already been convicted to 10 years in prison in relation to this case.
Furthermore, Argentina's Federal Criminal Cassation Court has reopened two other notorious corruption cases against Fernández de Kirchner. The first case, known as 'Hotesur-Los Sauces,' implicates Fernández de Kirchner and nearly 30 others, including her adult children, for using their family businesses for money laundering, illegal association, and receipt of illegal payments for public works projects issued during her presidency. The second case, 'Memorandum of Understanding with Iran,' accuses Fernández de Kirchner of colluding with Iran to cover up its role in the 1994 bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina Jewish community center, the gravest terrorist attack in Argentine history.
The senators also highlighted the economic consequences of Fernández de Kirchner's presidency, which led Argentina into bankruptcy and hyperinflation. They pointed out that her administration entered into nebulous agreements for public works contracts, including a deep-space station controlled by the Chinese military, compromising both U.S. and Argentine security.
In their letter, the senators urged President Biden to use the tools available under Presidential Proclamation 7750 and Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act to hold Fernández de Kirchner and her family members accountable for their involvement in acts of significant corruption.
The senators concluded their letter by expressing their expectation for a response from President Biden.
To find out more, go to this link: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-r-scott-cornyn-hagerty-rubio-ask-biden-admin-to-hold-former-argentinian-vice-president-accountable
