Agents immediately closed the embattled politician’s offices in Congress, after the lower house authorized a request by San Isidro federal judge Lino Mirabelli, who is overseeing the case, to search the premises of La Libertad Avanza legislator under investigation for his ties to Alfredo “Fred” Machado.

Machado is wanted by the U.S. justice system for trial on drug trafficking, money laundering, illicit associations, and wire fraud charges, a case that has the Argentine executive branch very nervous.

Espert was forced to resign as the main candidate for deputy for La Libertad Avanza to seek reelection in the October 26 legislative elections, due to a torrent of criticism of corruption and evidence proving that he received $200,000 from Machado and flew 36 times in two of the drug lord’s small planes.

He also resigned as chairman of the important Budget and Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, where he protected all of the Libertarian leader’s political measures as a good ally, and requested a leave of absence from Congress until December 8, albeit with pay.

This way, he retains his immunity to avoid going to court, although the unanimous decision of his colleagues on Wednesday night could open the door to his being subjected to legislative impeachment.

The scandal surrounding Espert, which implicates President Milei, worsened when, also yesterday, police found compromising documents about Machado at the estate in Viedma, Río Negro, where he was under house arrest after being transferred for deportation. The documents revealed a contract worth one million dollars between the accused and the politician.

Now Milei’s ally must explain the contract, which bears his signature and that of Fred Machado.

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