Argentina's Extortiongate: d'Alessio sought to link opposition governor with drug gang

Evidence gleaned from intelligence asset and indicted extortionist Marcelo d'Alessio as part of the ongoing “extortiongate” investigation that has shaken Argentine politics, exposed an attempt last year to link Santa Fe Province Governor Miguel Lifschitz to a violent drug gang known as Los Monos as part of a smear campaign.

Computer files recovered from d'Alessio's home during a raid ordered by Federal Judge Alejo Ramos Padilla on February 13 detail an operation labeled “Rosario drug trafficking” - in reference to Argentina's third-largest city, where the Los Monos gang is based - whose stated goal was to obtain false testimony from convicted gang leader Ramón Machuca.

d'Alessio's files show that he offered Machuca, Ariel Cantero, and other leaders of Los Monos ('the monkeys') a possible reduction in their sentence in return for their cooperation in incriminating Governor Lifschitz.

Lifschitz, 63, is Argentina's sole Socialist Party governor, and has become a leading critic of right-wing President Mauricio Macri since the implosion of a carry-trade debt bubble last year led to a severe economic crisis.

Monkey business

“We've always suspected that there were intelligence services behind Los Monos and other gangs - but now we're sure,” Lifschitz said.

“There's ample evidence to show d'Alessio not only conspired to discredit Santa Fe's government and Socialist Party officials - but that he participated in the attacks committed last year on the homes of prosecutors and judges.”

Federal and provincial courts in Santa Fe ordered investigations on March 18 into d'Alessio, concurrent to those being overseen by Judge Ramos Padilla in neighboring Buenos Aires Province.

Justice Minister Germán Garavano asked the Judiciary Council on March 15 to in turn investigate Ramos Padilla, while Macri and his allies have openly called for the judge's impeachment.

Lifschitz described Macri's response as “an interference of the Executive branch in the Judicial.”

José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, agreed, declaring on March 19 that while “any judge can be investigated with good cause, the government has not provided any convincing reason to investigate Ramos Padilla.”

“Instead, it appears to be retaliating against a judge who is pursuing an uncomfortable investigation.”

Extornelli

d'Alessio, 48, was arrested on February 15 after 22 hours of incriminating tapes collected by farmer Pedro Etchebest, from whom d'Alessio sought a $300,000 ransom, were published.

The tapes, made throughout January, show d'Alessio boasting that some $12 million in bribes had been collected since August, that political opponents had been “framed,” and that Federal Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli - another close Macri associate - “managed” the enterprise.

Audio, video, and WhatsApp messages show a close working relationship between the two, as well as with Macri's hard-line security Minister Patricia Bullrich.

Etchebest, 70, had his photo leaked to Clarín by government staff on February 19, and has reported receiving numerous threats. He now lives in the U.S. with his son.

“We are sure that above D'Alessio there are more important figures in politics, the judiciary, and intelligence,” Lifschitz concluded.

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&tab=wT&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lapoliticaonline.com%2Fnota%2F118166-dalessio-se-reunio-con-el-lider-de-los-monos-y-le-ofrecio-beneficios-si-comprometia-al-socialismo%2F

Indicted extortionist Marcelo d'Alessio and the Governor of Santa Fe Province, Miguel Lifschitz.

Argentina's Extortiongate began as an monetary extortion case linking d'Alessio to Federal Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli - the public face of Macri's weaponized judiciary against opponents.

Evidence recently gleaned from d'Alessio's computers show a wide-reaching scheme to smear opponents such as Lifschitz and former President Cristina Kirchner, as well as private citizens such as a former lover of Stornelli's ex-wife - whom d'Alessio discussed planting drugs on.

President Macri has close ties to both principals in the alleged extortion ring:

To Carlos Stornelli through the Boca Juniors football club (which Macri headed until entering politics); and to Marcelo d'Alessio through d'Alessio's uncle (whom Macri appointed presidential notary public), and through d'Alessio's former law partner - who administers Macri's blind trust.