Human Rights Watch: Macri's targeting judge probing extortion ring threatens judicial independence
The Argentine government’s request to investigate a judge who is looking into allegations of surveillance and extortion implicating government allies undermines judicial independence, Human Rights Watch said today.
President Mauricio Macri's administration - already reeling from a severe economic crisis - was rocked by reports on February 8 that an intelligence agent and close associate, Marcelo d'Alessio, ran a wide-reaching extortion and surveillance ring against political opponents, businessmen, and journalists.
An uncomfortable judge
On March 13, 2019, Federal Judge Alejo Ramos Padilla, who arrested d'Alessio and is overseeing the case, testified before Argentina's Congress about the ongoing investigation.
Two days later, Justice Minister Germán Garavano asked the Judiciary Council to open an investigation into Ramos Padilla, while Macri allies have openly called for the judge's impeachment.
“Any judge can be investigated with good cause; but the government has not provided any convincing reason to investigate Ramos Padilla,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.
“Instead, it appears to be retaliating against a judge who is pursuing an uncomfortable investigation.”
Losing control
The 19-member Judiciary Council investigates judges and has the authority to remove them from office.
But Macri lost effective control of the powerful Judiciary Council when, on November 17, Congress chose a member of the opposition to fill a vacancy rather than his hand-picked candidate.
The Argentine Supreme Court ruled unanimously on March 19 that Judge Ramos Padilla be given additional resources to probe voluminous documentary, phone, and computer file evidence gathered from a raid on d'Alessio's home and office on February 13 - assistance on which the Justice Ministry had denied him.
Extornelli
d'Alessio, 48, was arrested 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.
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.
At: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/03/19/argentina-inquiry-threatens-judicial-independence
Argentine President Mauricio Macri and the federal judge heading the Extornelligate investigation, Alejo Ramos Padilla.
Macri, who is seeking the judge's impeachment, 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.
