Washington bars ex-Argentina president from entering US, citing corruption

FILE PHOTO: Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner stands on a balcony, on the day the Federal Court of Criminal Appeals confirmed a prison sentence on charges of alleged corruption in the awarding of public works during her presidency, in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. on Friday announced that Argentine former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and a former government minister are ineligible for entry into the country, after the two were designated for their "involvement in significant corruption."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Kirchner and former planning minister Julio Miguel De Vido "abused their positions by orchestrating and financially benefitting from multiple bribery schemes involving public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government."