Milei's Top Aide Resigns Amid Federal Corruption Probe Into Lavish Spending

Manuel Adorni, the Cabinet chief and closest confidant to Argentine President Javier Milei, abruptly resigned on Saturday amid a spiraling federal investigation into illicit enrichment. The departure strips the libertarian administration of one of its most powerful figures and threatens to derail its foundational promise to eradicate political corruption.[1][2]

The scandal centers on a stark discrepancy between Adorni's modest official salary—roughly $2,600 a month—and a sudden influx of luxury spending. Federal prosecutors launched a probe after media reports documented Adorni taking his family on a private jet to Uruguay's elite Punta del Este resort and paying cash for a first-class holiday to Aruba.[1][3]

Investigators are also scrutinizing Adorni's recent real estate acquisitions, which include a new apartment in Buenos Aires and a weekend home outside the city. Both properties were purchased since Milei took office in late 2023.[1]

For weeks, Adorni vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting his wealth was accumulated through private sector work and cryptocurrency investments before he entered government. However, the pressure reached a breaking point earlier this month when he admitted in a television interview to hiding $500,000 in savings from tax authorities.[1][4]

Adorni attempted to justify the undeclared funds by claiming he had bought dollars on the black market to protect his savings from Argentina's chronically high inflation, stating he acted "like all Argentines." He framed the tax evasion as an "involuntary mistake" and promised to pay the corresponding fines.[2][5]

In his resignation letter posted to social media, Adorni stated he was stepping down to spare the administration further damage. "For the first time since December 10, 2023, I am going against your wishes," he wrote to Milei, adding that he leaves "peacefully and serenely, but above all, with a clear conscience."[1][2]

President Milei had fiercely defended his Cabinet chief until the end. Last week, while visiting Spain, Milei declared Adorni "innocent" and vowed to "stand by my ministers to the bitter end." Following the resignation, Karina Milei, the president's sister and another top power broker, publicly thanked Adorni, lamenting the "unjust, painful and exhausting process" he endured.[1][3]

The optics of the scandal are devastating for a government that swept to power on a promise to take a "chainsaw" to state spending and punish the corrupt political "caste." Adorni, who served as Milei's chief spokesperson before being elevated to Cabinet chief, was the daily face of the administration's harsh austerity measures.[1][6]

The revelation of his hidden wealth and private jet travel has struck a profound nerve among ordinary Argentines. The country is currently enduring deep spending cuts, slumping economic activity, and climbing unemployment, with university professors and public workers seeing their purchasing power plummet by roughly 33 percent.[6]

The hypocrisy has fueled widespread public anger. Recent protests in Buenos Aires drew tens of thousands of demonstrators, with many carrying signs reading, "How much does Adorni cost us?" as they marched against cuts to the public university system.[6]

The political fallout is already registering in public opinion. According to recent polling, President Milei's approval rating has dropped to 39 percent, a sharp decline from the 53 percent he enjoyed a year ago.[2]

Adorni's exit leaves a massive vacuum in Milei's inner circle. As Cabinet chief, Adorni wielded immense influence over negotiations with provincial governors and opposition lawmakers in Congress—relationships that are critical for passing the president's sweeping privatization and deregulation agenda. It remains unclear who will be appointed to replace him.[1]