Argentinian President Javier Milei charged with fraud over $LIBRA token scandal: AP

Argentinian lawyers have reportedly charged the country's President, Javier Milei, with fraud over his involvement in the $LIBRA token project, escalating a scandal that erupted over the weekend after the token, initially promoted by Milei, crashed 95% in value. “Within this illicit association, the crime of fraud was committed, in which the president’s actions were essential,” plaintiff Jonatan Baldiviezo told the Associated Press. Another of the plaintiffs, Claudio Lozano, is an economist who formerly served as the head of Argentina's Central Bank; another lawyer and engineer also joined the lawsuit. Milei has denied advance knowledge of the token project and has maintained his innocence in the scandal. His administration announced yesterday that it would open its own investigation into the token project, as some members of his political opposition call for an impeachment trial. "Given the facts, President Javier Milei has decided to immediately involve the Anti-Corruption Office (OA) to determine whether there was improper conduct on the part of any member of the National Government, including the President himself," a translation of his announcement states. Hayden Davis, an advisor on the project, accused Milei of sparking the crash in price by withdrawing his support for the project, causing investors to lose confidence. "As the custodian—not the owner — of these funds, I do not feel comfortable transferring them to Milei's associates or the KIP team," Davis said in a statement. However, on-chain data show that the price had already fallen precipitously from its peak at the time Milei pulled his endorsement; an earlier wave of selling was seemingly sparked by reports that the token project's insiders cashed out $107 million in trading fees and liquidity pool funds. Davis seemingly alluded to the funds in his statement, saying he plans on reinvesting the funds under his control, "as much as $100 million," into the project by buying and burning the token. A judge on the case could be assigned as soon as tomorrow, according to the AP. Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2024 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.