Buenos Aires (EFE).- Argentina’s Security Minister Patricia Bullrich was accused on Tuesday of abuse of authority after requesting judicial raids on a news outlet and the homes of two journalists who published leaked audio recordings of Karina Milei, the president’s sister and presidential secretary general.
The government claims the recordings were made illegally inside the Casa Rosada (Argentine Presidential Palace).
The Ministry of Security filed a complaint on Monday asking a judge to authorize the “forensic seizure” of material from the digital outlet “Carnaval” and to raid the homes of journalists Jorge Rial and Mauro Federico.
The government denounced what it called “a crude, illegal intelligence operation against one of the administration’s main figures” and demanded that the judiciary prevent further distribution of the recordings.
On Monday, a judge accepted a government request for an injunction ordering “the immediate suspension of the dissemination of audios recorded at the Casa de Gobierno of the Nation.”
Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni defended the move, saying the audios were “not a matter of freedom of expression but a grave violation of institutional privacy.”
President Milei amplified the message on social media, describing the leaks as an “illegal intelligence operation” aimed at destabilizing the government ahead of Buenos Aires legislative elections this Sunday.
Opposition and press union condemn raids
The Buenos Aires Press Workers’ Union (SiPreBA) condemned the government’s request for raids, warning that it “violates the protection of journalistic sources” and could set a dangerous precedent.
“Case law has consistently rejected this type of measure,” the union said in a statement on X.
Carnaval also denounced the government’s actions as “censorship,” vowing: “They will not silence us.”
“In an act of extreme madness, the Milei administration is not only accusing journalism of investigating corruption but also directly attacking freedom of the press and expression,” said journalist Jorge Rial, one of the targets of the proposed raids.
Corruption scandal deepens
The leaks come amid a corruption scandal involving alleged kickbacks through Argentina’s National Disability Agency (Andis).
On Aug. 20, audio surfaced of a government official describing a scheme of bribe collection connected to pharmaceutical distributor Suizo Argentina.
Karina Milei has been accused of benefiting from the scheme, allegedly with the knowledge of her brother, President Milei.
The latest audios leaked, however, do not mention the corruption case but instead reveal her urging unity within the ruling party, La Libertad Avanza.
Journalist Mauro Federico has said he holds up to 50 minutes of Karina Milei recordings. EFE
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