The former manager of the residence occupied by ex-president Alberto Fernández during his term in office said in court on Monday that he did not witness acts of violence against former first lady Fabiola Yáñez, but that he did witness the couple’s “break-up.”
Daniel Rodríguez, who oversaw the Quinta de Olivos presidential residence during Fernández’s 2015-2019 Presidency, gave testimony before Federal Judge Julián Ercolini and Ramiro González in the gender violence case brought by Yañez against her former partner.
Yáñez, 43, filed a complaint on August 6 accusing Fernández, 65, of having beaten her during their relationship, which ended after he left office in 2023, and of "psychological terrorism."
The former president, who admits to arguing with his former partner throughout the relationship, has denied claims of gender violence and battery.
According to Rodríguez's statement, which the Noticias Argentinas news agency has seen, the relationship between Fernández and Yañez “changed notably” after in August 2021 following the “publication of the photo of the Olivos party” – a reference to the infamous picture that revealed Fernández and Yáñez had staged a rule-breaking birthday celebration in July 2020 with a group of friends while the nation was in the grip of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Rodríguez declared before the court that “break-up” of the presidential couple “was evident” and that Yañez's “relations” and “contact” with other people at Olivos “almost disappeared” after the publication of the photos.
He told the prosecutor that “Fabiola's entourage was no longer seen after the publication of the photo.”
Rodriguez clarified that he did not witness any acts of violence on the part of the former president, but he did witness “shouting.”
The former manager of the Olivos residence indicated that Yañez “began to frequent the guest chalet after the publication of the photo,” confirming reports that the couple had begun living apart before the end of Fernández’s term in office.
She moved “definitively” into the chalet “at the beginning of 2023,” added Rodriguez.
The former Olivos boss is seen as a key witness in the case. Ercolini summoned him to testify due to his close personal and professional relationship with Fernández.
Before being manager of the Olivos residence, Rodríguez was a firefighter with the Federal Police and worked on Fernández’s security detail while the veteran Peronist served as Cabinet chief for late ex-president Néstor Kirchner. He has also worked as Fernández's personal chauffeur, errand man and secretary.
He previously fell under the spotlight during the furore that arose in response to the publication of the Olvios party photographs.
Rodríguez’s signature was on a number of alleged permits (that were not legally valid) that were issued to those visiting the presidential residence during the Covid lockdown period, when social distancing was enforced.
Allegations
González is investigating nine alleged episodes of violence by Fernández against Yáñez, including emotional abuse, physical aggression and harassment, which allegedly took place from 2016 to early 2024.
He has asked Ercolini to bring charges against the ex-president for "minor and serious injuries, doubly aggravated," as well as "coercive threats."
The prosecutor says there is evidence Yáñez had "suffered a relationship marked by harassment, psychological harassment and physical aggression in a context of gender and domestic violence."
The scandal first erupted when text messages from Fernández’s former private secretary detailing the alleged violence cropped up in a separate fraud investigation. The phone was being analysed as part of a probe into influence-peddling during Fernandez's administration.
Soon after, details and photos of the alleged abuse were published in local media outlets, with images of Yáñez with bruises on her face and arm.
In one exchange, Fernández’s long-standing private secretary María Cantero offers to visit Yáñez after one of the alleged violent incidents took place.
Cantero says that she will ask ‘Dani’ – most likely Rodríguez – to help her enter the site without Fernández’s knowledge.
Model summoned
In his testimony, Rodríguez also referred to reports that Fernández had a relationship with model Sofía Pacchi during his time as head of state, describing them as “a widespread rumour” around Olivos.
In previous testimony, Yáñez alleged that an argument between her and Fernández began after she discovered the former head of state had sent a series of messages to Pacchi.
According to the first lady, during a row, Fernández “grabbed her arms, causing an injury to one of her limbs and held her by the neck with his hands.”
Pachhi, however, denied those reports on Monday.
“It is imperative to clarify that I have never had a sentimental relationship of any kind with the former president,” Pacchi said in a statement.
González has summoned Pacchi to testify on September 12.
Pacchi is said to have been a friend of Yáñez and a regular visitor to the Olivos residence during Fernández’s Presidency until images of the infamous birthday party emerged.
The next to testify as a witness in the gender violence case will be the former head of the Presidential Medical Unit, Dr Federico Walter Saavedra, who has been summoned for September 5.
Saavedra will face tough questioning, given his role would have seen him come into regular contact with both Fernández and Yáñez, who has testified that the doctor had treated her injuries after one of the alleged beatings.
– TIMES/NA
) Local news reports in recent days, however, have cast doubt over Rodríguez's statements,
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