Guillermo Francos distanced himself from Mariano Cúneo Libarona's video with Tim Ballard: "I have nothing to reproach him for."


Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos was asked this Wednesday about the controversy surrounding Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona , after a hidden camera video was released showing him talking with former CIA agent Tim Ballard , accused of sexual abuse. Although Francos claimed not to have seen the video, he ended up justifying the official and raised more questions than answers.
The recording aired Tuesday on the program Argenzuela . In the footage, the minister can be heard offering Ballard help to "clean up his image" in Argentina , with the goal of facilitating business with local entrepreneurs. The incident gained notoriety because it involved a national official making promises to a figure denounced by his own organization.
Francos was approached by journalists upon entering the Casa Rosada. "Did you see the video?" reporter Fabián Waldman asked. "No, I didn't see the video," the Chief of Staff replied. But immediately after a brief explanation of its content, he attempted to downplay its importance: "I don't think he's offering his services to you. I think he discussed a worrying issue," he said.
Despite declaring that he hadn't seen the footage, Francos concluded, " I have nothing to reproach him for ," a clear reference to Cúneo Libarona . The contradiction was immediate: either he lied about not having seen the video, or he decided to defend an official without knowing the exact facts.
The video was recorded in New York, in Ballard's own apartment. There, the Minister of Justice mentions his intention to intervene in both the media and the judiciary : "I'll get you the resources. I can talk to Rolando, because I'm a friend, and tell him we're going to campaign for Tim to come and put together something nice," he can be heard saying. The excerpt sparked rejection and concern among opposition groups and human rights organizations.
So far, the government has not issued a clear official position on the minister's behavior. The only response came from Guillermo Francos , who took an evasive stance. No other member of Javier Milei 's team has commented publicly on the matter.
Official silence fuels the scandal. As questions mount, the opposition demands formal explanations. For many, this is an incident that compromises not only the minister but also the government itself.
The figure of Tim Ballard , who inspired the film Sound of Freedom and faces allegations of abuse, exacerbates the situation. The fact that a high-ranking Argentine official offered him contacts in the media and courts set off alarm bells internationally. Despite Francos 's attempt to downplay it, the scandal surrounding the Cúneo Libarona video continues to grow. And it threatens to have consequences inside and outside of Javier Milei 's government.
elintransigente