Milei Attacks Argentine Press After Libra Case Dismissal

Argentine President Javier Milei attacked journalists and celebrated the justice system after a federal judge dismissed the criminal case over his promotion of the Libra cryptocurrency. He accused media groups of using the controversy to pressure his government, allegations that remain distinct from the court’s findings about the token.

Judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi dismissed the case against Milei, his sister Karina Milei and nine others on October 23, following a request from prosecutor Eduardo Taiano. According to Infobae’s account of the ruling, the judge concluded that the conduct investigated did not establish the criminal offenses alleged.

Milei portrayed the outcome as vindication against a politically motivated campaign. In remarks reported by Infobae, he celebrated the functioning of republican institutions and accused opponents of trying to undermine the presidency through institutional channels.

Bitcoin.com News reported that Milei also accused major media groups, including La Nación, of exploiting the case to obtain favorable tax treatment. He demanded redress for damage to his reputation and singled out journalists over their coverage. The reported dismissal did not establish those separate accusations against the press.

The investigation stemmed from a February 14, 2025, post on X in which Milei promoted Libra as a private initiative intended to finance Argentine businesses. The token’s value rose sharply before collapsing hours later, and Milei deleted his post. He subsequently denied having links to the project, according to Bitcoin.com News.

The ruling drew a distinction between that sequence and proof of fraud. Infobae reported that the judge found investigators had not established a specific deceptive statement that induced purchases and directly caused financial losses. The court also reasoned that losses in a highly volatile cryptocurrency market did not, by themselves, demonstrate a crime.

The judge separately rejected allegations involving abuse of authority and incompatible dealings in public office, according to Infobae. His reasoning included the absence of a demonstrated state transaction or administrative intervention connected to the project. Those findings addressed the legal requirements of the alleged offenses rather than the broader political controversy surrounding Milei’s promotion.

Opposition lawmaker Maximiliano Ferraro, who chaired Congress’s Libra investigative commission, challenged the handling of the inquiry. Bitcoin.com News reported that he questioned whether meetings involving token promoters, cryptocurrency transfers and calls between those involved had been adequately explained. His accusations of a cover-up were criticisms of the investigation, not judicial findings.

The Block reported that none of the 11 people investigated had been called to give a formal statement as a suspect before the dismissal. Investors previously admitted as private plaintiffs had also been removed from the proceedings, a decision upheld on appeal. That procedural history has become central to efforts to challenge the outcome.

Those investors are seeking reinstatement through the Federal Criminal Cassation Court, according to The Block. If successful, they could gain a route to appeal the dismissal. For now, Milei is presenting the decision as vindication, while the possibility of further review depends in part on whether the investors can re-enter the case.