Adorni projects business as usual – but the allegations keep coming

Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni travelled to Mendoza Thursday to oversee the inauguration of a new solar energy park, seeking to leave his troubles behind in Buenos Aires.

Adorni, 46, is under increasing pressure as revelations about his spending, wealth and assets continue to drip out into the media. The official is under investigation for illicit enrichment by the courts and this week, further reporting detailing cash-in-hand transactions dominated the headlines.

This week, Adorni’s assets and real-estate moves again came under judicial scrutiny after new testimony in the case investigating presumed irregularities linked to his handling of funds. An investigation was also opened into allegations regarding his brother.

But for the official, and the government, the message is that it’s business as usual. The official retains the support of the Milei siblings – President Javier Milei and his sister, Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei – and maintains an active administrative agenda, according to the government.

The Milei siblings’ confidence in Adorni is such that the President does not believe there could be any news which would warrant even thinking of his exit. Even sectors of the ruling La Libertad Avanza party who are wavering say: “They could come to back him up forever.”

‘El Quemado’

For now, Adorni continues to be the main representative of the La Libertad Avanza administration at most public events, given the President’s lack of appearances outside the capital.

On Thursday, the Cabinet chief travelled to Mendoza to participate in the inauguration of the appropriately named ‘El Quemado’ solar energy park, the first project to enter the RIGI incentive scheme for major investments – one of the flagship policies of the Milei administration.

The ceremony was symbolic for the government. The YPF Luz investment topped US$220 million and has the capacity to bring energy to 233,000 households, according to company estimates.

Adorni’s speech highlighted the virtues of the economic model of the Milei administration, stating that the project is proof that the government is “on the right road.”

The presence of the official was to serve as a demonstration that the government is not paralysed but up and running. It was also a sign that the ruling party wants to establish support for the federal agreements being negotiated by La Libertad Avanza ahead of next year’s elections.

Family affair

Federal prosecutor Guillermo Marijuán has also opened up an investigation indicting Buenos Aires Province legislator Francisco Adorni, the Cabinet chief’s brother, for presumed embezzlement and money-laundering.

This judicial case originated from the denunciations of maverick libertarian deputy Marcela Pagano and has been placed by lot in the Juzgado Federal No. 6 courtroom where Daniel Rafecas is acting judge, delegating the file to a representative of the MPF (Ministerio Público Fiscal) prosecutor-general’s office.

The charges focus on possible discrepancies between the declared earnings of Francisco Adorni and the growth of his assets. The political leader entered the national administration in the internal audit of the Defence Ministry before taking over the helm of the Institute of Financial Assistance doling out military pensions in mid-2025 with his brother’s support. Shortly afterwards he landed a provincial legislative seat in Buenos Aires Province, joining the La Libertad Avanza caucus.

According to the La Nación newspaper, José Luis Rodríguez, owner of a house in the gated community of Indio Cua gated community and a neighbour of Adorni, testified to prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita last Wednesday that he rented the house on and off to the official for a total sum of US$21,000, paid in cash, over a period of 18 months.

His testimony partially ratified what had already been pointed out previously by contractor Matías Tabar, who had mentioned a contract for US$13,000. Nevertheless, Rodríguez added further details about the transaction, assuring that there had been a formal agreement for a prior rent during the summer of 2024 for US$5,600 and that once the main contract for 13 months had expired, Adorni’s stay was extended for a further three months against an extra payment of US$2,400.

The file investigating Adorni is currently in the courtroom of federal judge Ariel Lijo with Pollicita, who in March requested a battery of measures to find evidence to analyse the evolution of the official’s assets, finances and business relationships, as prosecutor.

The investigation originated from the denunciations presented by ex-allies including Pagano, who pointed to a presumed increase of assets incompatible with the earnings declared by Adorni. Among the points under analysis figure properties in gated communities, trips abroad spending in dollars, refurbishments paid in cash and financial movements considered striking by the courts.

In the framework of this case, judge Lijo has ordered the tax secrecy of the Cabinet chief and his wife Bettina Angeletti to be lifted to gain access to information about their bank accounts, spending, credits, e-wallets and financial transactions.

Crypto concerns

Furthermore, in recent weeks the enquiry has added new lines of investigation linked to operations with cryptocurrency detected after preliminary analysis of financial movements. According to judicial sources quoted by Infobae, the investigators are seeking to trace those digital assets and determine if they are related to undeclared assets or spending.

Another focus of this case falls on the presumed multi-million refurbishments in the house in the Indio Cua gated community with a contractor testifying in court that he collected around US$245,000 in cash for work there without issuing invoices.

In parallel, the prosecutors have also incorporated testimony about family trips abroad, some of them first class, and real estate transactions where the reconstruction of the origin of the funds used by the official is sought.

Until now, Adorni has denied all the accusations, maintaining publicly that the charges “have no basis.” He has also ruled out resigning and assured that he will demonstrate the legality of his assets.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL