Argentina’s Senator-elect Lorena Villaverde Renounces Seat Amid Drugs Scandal
Lorena Villaverde, a senator-elect for President Javier Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party in Argentina, has officially renounced her seat in the Senate following intense opposition regarding her past criminal record. Villaverde, who won the seat in October’s midterm elections, was blocked from being sworn in due to allegations linking her to narcotrafficking. Reports indicate she was arrested and convicted in the United States in 2002 for trafficking over 400 grams of cocaine, with an outstanding arrest warrant issued in 2003. Although the U.S. case closed in 2017 due to inaction, opposition senators also cited investigations into money laundering and fraud in Argentina. In her resignation letter, Villaverde denied the allegations but stated she stepped down to prevent opponents from using her situation to damage the government and its reforms. She will retain her position as a national deputy. This incident marks another controversy for the LLA party, following similar scandals involving candidate José Luis Espert and alleged ties to extradited drug trafficker Fred Machado, raising questions about the party's connections to illicit networks.
Wire timeline
Argentina’s Senator-elect Lorena Villaverde Renounces Seat Amid Drugs Scandal
Lorena Villaverde, a senator-elect for President Javier Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party in Argentina, has officially renounced her seat in the Senate following intense opposition regarding her past criminal record. Villaverde, who won the seat in October’s midterm elections, was blocked from being sworn in due to allegations linking her to narcotrafficking. Reports indicate she was arrested and convicted in the United States in 2002 for trafficking over 400 grams of cocaine, with an outstanding arrest warrant issued in 2003. Although the U.S. case closed in 2017 due to inaction, opposition senators also cited investigations into money laundering and fraud in Argentina. In her resignation letter, Villaverde denied the allegations but stated she stepped down to prevent opponents from using her situation to damage the government and its reforms. She will retain her position as a national deputy. This incident marks another controversy for the LLA party, following similar scandals involving candidate José Luis Espert and alleged ties to extradited drug trafficker Fred Machado, raising questions about the party's connections to illicit networks.
Argentina Reports