Washington, US – The United States government announced sanctions on Friday against former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-2015) and former Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido (2003-2015), citing their “involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office.” The measures, unveiled by the Donald Trump administration, bar Fernández, De Vido, and their immediate family members from entering the United States.
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In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the former officials of abusing their authority “by orchestrating and financially benefiting from multiple bribery schemes involving public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government.” Rubio emphasized that both individuals have faced convictions for corruption in Argentina, underscoring the U.S. commitment to combating international graft.
The sanctions come amid ongoing legal battles for Fernández in her home country. In November 2024, Argentina’s Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber upheld a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from public office against Fernández in the high-profile “Vialidad” case. The investigation exposed irregularities in the allocation of 51 road construction contracts to companies linked to businessman Lázaro Báez during Fernández’s presidency and that of her late husband, former President Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007). The ruling, originally issued in December 2022, marked Fernández’s first criminal conviction and sent shockwaves through Argentina’s political landscape. However, she has not been detained as the sentence remains under appeal.
On February 14, 2025, Fernández appealed to have her conviction overturned. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Attorney General’s Office, also appealing the decision, has pushed for a harsher 12-year sentence, arguing for the additional charge of illicit association. The Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber now faces a critical decision: whether to allow the case to proceed to the Supreme Court via extraordinary appeals or reject them, leaving the parties to appeal directly to the nation’s highest court. Legal experts suggest the Supreme Court’s final ruling could take months—or even years—to materialize, leaving Fernández’s fate uncertain.
De Vido, a key figure in the Kirchner administrations, has also faced multiple corruption convictions tied to his oversight of public works projects. The U.S. sanctions signal a broader effort to hold accountable foreign officials implicated in systemic corruption, with Rubio noting that such actions undermine democratic governance and economic stability.
Fernández, a polarizing Peronist leader, has maintained her innocence, framing the legal challenges as political persecution. Her supporters argue the cases reflect a concerted effort to discredit her legacy, while critics hail the sanctions and convictions as long-overdue justice for Argentina’s taxpayers.
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