U.S. sanctions Argentina’s Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and a former minister
The Trump administration imposed sanctions Friday on former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her former planning minister, Julio de Vido, in light of the “significant” corruption charges against them in their home country, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“Today, I am announcing the designation of Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner (“CFK”), former president of Argentina, and Julio Miguel De Vido (“De Vido”), former Minister of Planning of Argentina, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. This action renders CFK, De Vido, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States”, Rubio said in a press release.
Rubio said that Fernández and De Vido abused their positions “by orchestrating and financially benefittng from multiple bribery schemes involving public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government.”
Multiple courts have convicted Fernández and De Vido of corruption, undermining the Argentine people’s and investors’ confidence in Argentina’s future, he said.
Fernández, who served as president from 2007-15 and as vice president from 2019-23, has been involved in a series of corruption scandals over the years, including most notably the Vialidad case, in which it was alleged that she favored businessman Lázaro Báez, who was reportedly close to her late husband, former President Néstor Kirchner.
In December 2022, Fernández de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from holding public office, though she remains free due to her vice-presidential immunity and is appealing the ruling.
De Vido was at the center of his own set of corruption scandals, including accusations of having received $25 million in bribes from giant Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM.
