Argentine judge finds sufficient evidence to charge ex-President with committing gender violence
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled that sufficient evidence exists to proceed with formal charges against Argentina's former President Alberto Fernández for committing violence against former first lady Fabiola Yáñez.
Fernández stands accused of causing 'minor and serious injuries, aggravated by having been committed in a context of gender violence and against her partner on two occasions,' according to a ruling issued Monday by federal judge Julián Ercolini and seen by The Associated Press.
Ercolini also placed a freeze of 10 million pesos (about $8 million) on part of Fernández's assets.
Fernández, 65, a left-leaning Peronist politician who was president of Argentina from 2019 to 2023, has denied the incidents that Yáñez, 43, reported in August 2024.
Following the woman's complaint, a prosecutor accused Fernández last year, initiating a formal investigation. Judge Ercolini, adhering to Argentine legal deadlines, subsequently ruled that sufficient evidence exists to proceed with formal charges against him.
Fernández can appeal this decision, and the case will only proceed to trial after rulings from higher courts. This appellate process could take years.
After being elected president in 2019, 'the physical violence would have continued and escalated, more precisely after she became pregnant (towards the end of July-beginning of August 2021), in the form of neck grabs, shaking, open-handed slaps and blows that caused injuries to the body of the aforementioned,' Ercolini wrote.
Evidence considered by the judge include WhatsApp conversations that Yáñez had with the private secretary of the then president (containing photos of her injuries), Yáñez's testimony, medical certificates, and corroborating testimony from family and friends.
According to the judge, eight years of 'psychological and physical aggression' would have left Yáñez with 'psychological damage, causing a permanent deterioration of her health.'
If convicted and found guilty, the former president could face a maximum of 18 years in prison.
____
Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Débora Rey, The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Army turns 250. Trump turns 79. Cue funnel cakes, festive bling, military might — and protest
WASHINGTON (AP) — There were funnel cakes, stands of festival bling and American flags aplenty. There were mighty machines of war, brought out to dazzle and impress. And there was the spray of tear gas against nonviolent marchers in Atlanta and rolling waves of anti-Trump resistance coast to coast. In scenes of celebration, protest and trepidation Saturday, masses of Americans cheered for a rousing Army parade like none seen in Washington in generations. Masses more rallied across the country against a president derided by his critics as an authoritarian, would-be king. On Saturday, the U.S. Army turned 250 and President Donald Trump 79. The double birthday bash energized crowds of well-wishers and military families in the capital while others decried the militarization of city streets — in Los Angeles, where a federalized National Guard and U.S. Marines remained deployed against unrest, and in Washington for the parade. In these times, the fault lines of American life were evident. 'One nation under distress,' read a sign carried in a crowd of 1,000 protesters on the grounds of Florida's old Capitol in Tallahassee. Forewarned of a heavy state response if the crowd caused any trouble, organizers implored the peaceful protesters to not so much as jaywalk. Yet, in his Trump 2024 shirt, retired American Airlines pilot Larry Stallard happily lived out 'one thing on my bucket list' from his perch on the parade route. Stallard, 82, came from Kansas City for the event. He declared Trump 'one of the best presidents in my lifetime' and concluded, 'It's been a long day, but it's worth it.' Spirited 'No Kings' protests unfolded in cities and towns across the American republic. But in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz asked people to stay away from anti-Trump demonstrations after the assassination of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, by a gunman still on the loose. In Washington, more than 6,000 soldiers set off marching in period-by-period uniforms, dating back to the garb of the ragtag Continental Army and the rise of a nation that would become the world's most potent military power. In the mix: tanks, parachute jumps and flyovers by more than 60 aircraft. With evening thunderstorms in the forecast, the parade started well ahead of schedule. In the first 40 minutes, it sped through more than 200 years of Army history, from 1775 to 1991. Vietnam-era helicopters, including the Huey, roared overhead, as did World War II-vintage aircraft. Sherman tanks, used extensively in that war's European theater, rumbled in the procession along with modern machinery. The Army's Golden Knights parachute team jumped early, releasing streaks of red smoke across the sky and making the crowd scream with excitement as they floated to the ground. At the festival earlier, attendees sported apparel celebrating both the Army and Trump. Vendors moved through the crowd, selling Trump-themed merchandise, while others offered gear commemorating the Army's milestone. It was all too much for Wind Euler, 62, who flew from Arizona to join the protesters. 'My father was a Marine in Iwo Jima, and he was a Republican," Euler said. "I think he would be appalled by the fascist display this parade shows.' Opinions as plentiful as the imagery In a camouflage jacket and Army baseball hat, Army veteran Aaron Bogner of Culpeper, Virginia, decried how he believes Trump is using the U.S. military to advance a personal agenda. 'I think it's shameful," Bogner said. 'It's just an engineered birthday party. It's an excuse to have tanks in your streets like North Korea.' Above all, Bogner said, he came to protest the deployment of U.S. troops in Los Angeles after lawlessness broke out in pockets of the city along with peaceful demonstrations against Trump's crackdown on immigrants. 'I'm struggling to understand when it became unpatriotic to protest,' he said. In Atlanta, law enforcement officers deployed tear gas to divert several hundred protesters heading toward Interstate 285 in the northern part of the city. A journalist was also seen being detained. Police yelled 'unlawful assembly' and 'you must disperse' into megaphones as they used tear gas to divert protesters off the road. The tear gas caused the crowd to disperse east and away from the interstate. Two police helicopters flew above as the crowd moved. Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, used bicycles to corral marchers. After the main 'No Kings' march ended in Charlotte, a second, unpermitted march began, producing a police confrontation. Officers formed a barricade with bicycles and yelled 'move back' as protesters attempted to march through uptown Charlotte. In response, demonstrators chanted 'let us walk' as police continued to shift them back. Protesters also shouted other phrases such as 'peaceful protest' and 'no more Nazis.'
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Photos of escalating Israel-Iran conflict
Iran launched a second night of missile attacks against Israel on Saturday as Israel continued to strike Tehran and other locations, following a major Israeli offensive targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities. Israel warned of more attacks after Tehran fired waves of missiles and drones that killed three people and wounded dozens in Israel. Israelis sought refuge in bomb shelters and held blood drives as Iranians celebrated the Muslim Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir and demonstrated against the Israeli attacks. Israel said hundreds of airstrikes against Iran over the past two days killed nine senior scientists and experts involved in Iran's nuclear program, in addition to several top generals. Iran's U.N. ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Military parade kicks off in nation's capital with tanks, troops and 21-gun salute
WASHINGTON (AP) — The grand military parade that President Donald Trump had been wanting for eight years kicked off Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute, playing out against the counterpoint of protesters around the country who decried the U.S. leader as a dictator and would-be king. The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early as light rain fell and dark clouds loomed. It's a procession Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year, when it was added to an event recognizing the Army's 250th anniversary. Hours before the parade was set to start, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to decry the Republican president as a dictator or would-be king. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to those protesting his deportation efforts and for sending tanks, thousands of marching troops and military aircraft out for a show in the U.S. capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said 'Homes not drones' not far from a display of armored vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army's birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, but said that the parade scheduled for later 'was a little over the top.' Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a 'very bold statement to the world, perhaps.' The military procession was set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial later Saturday, under the threat of stormy weather and to the accompaniment of protests elsewhere in the city. Trump brushed off the possibility of both disruptions, with a social media post Saturday morning that said the 'great military parade' would be on 'rain or shine.' The protests, he said earlier, 'will be met with very big force.' Hours ahead of the parade, crowds of protesters with anti-Trump signs marched toward the White House, escorted by police vehicles and officers on bicycles. Some held a giant banner that read: 'TRUMP MUST GO NOW.' The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army's birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. About 6 in 10 Americans said Saturday's parade was 'not a good use' of government money. The vast majority of people, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. He similarly sought to project military strength during his first presidential term, saying in 2020 that he wanted forces to 'dominate' the streets following racial justice protests that turned violent and warning governors that he was prepared to send in active-duty fighters if they did not call out the National Guard in their states. Earlier this week, Trump raised eyebrows during a speech at Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd Airborne Division, who were directed to stand behind Trump, booed and cheered during his incendiary remarks , including condemnation of his predecessor, Joe Biden. There also was a pop-up 'Make America Great Again' merchandise stand nearby selling souvenirs to troops in uniform. The Defense Department has a doctrine that prohibits troops from participating in political activity while in uniform. Members of Congress and military leaders have expressed concerns about the political displays during the speech at Fort Bragg. Saturday's pageantry was designed to fulfill Trump's expressed desire for a big parade that he tried to get done in his first term after seeing one in Paris on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Élysées that he wanted an even grander one in Washington. Saturday's event is expected to include about 6,600 soldiers, 50 helicopters and 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks , as well as possibly 200,000 attendees and heightened security to match. The parade will wind down Constitution Avenue, lined with security fencing and barriers. Army helicopters and aircraft will fly above, and the march will be capped off by a parachute jump, a concert featuring 'God Bless the U.S.A.' singer Lee Greenwood and fireworks. It remained unclear whether any protests would disrupt the parade, though several hundred demonstrators assembled in the hours before. Officials have said they had no indication of any security threat. 'No Kings' rallies — organizers picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration — unfolding in hundreds of cities — were meant to counter what organizers say are Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. Ahead of a rally and march toward the White House on Saturday afternoon, about 200 protesters assembled in northwest Washington's Logan Circle and handed out signs and danced to upbeat music from a local street band, including 'This Land Is Your Land.' The mood was celebratory as the group chanted 'Trump must go now' before erupting in cheers. A larger-than-life puppet of Trump was wheeled through the crowd, a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet. Other protesters waved pride flags and hoisted signs, some with pointed messages such as 'I prefer crushed ICE,' referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Other messages were: 'The invasion was HERE Jan. 6th, NOT in L.A.' and 'Flip me off if you're a FASCIST.' With rain expected, there was a chance the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend the festival and parade. The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT, but parts of it — including the horse-drawn caissons and other units — start at the Pentagon, head over a bridge and meet up with some of the heavier tanks and equipment. Officials did not want the more-than-60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles crossing the bridge. Timed down to the minute, the march will be divided into sections by history — with equipment and troops in full dress from each period. It will include a total of 6,169 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery, while 62 aircraft fly overhead. At the end of the parade, Trump will swear in 250 new or reenlisting troops, and the Army's Golden Knights parachute team will jump onto the Mall. That will be followed by a concert and fireworks. ____ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price, Nathan Ellgren, Lea Skene, Olivia Diaz, Joey Cappelletti, Ashraf Khalil and Tara Copp contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
