The new judge in the Insaurralde case validated the videos in which Jesica Cirio appears surrounded by bundles of dollars

A new judge overseeing the case against former Buenos Aires mayor Martín Insaurralde has validated video footage showing his former partner, Jesica Cirio, surrounded by bundles of U.S. dollars in her dressing room at a property in San Vicente. The decision was made by Judge Juan Tomás Rodríguez Ponte, who assumed responsibility for the case after several years of interim judges handling it. The videos, previously published by La Nación, were challenged by Insaurralde’s defense team, which sought to have them excluded as evidence due to concerns over their authenticity and metadata. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in the investigation into alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering charges against Insaurralde. The judge rejected the defense's arguments for nullifying the videos, stating that the absence of original file systems or precise dates of creation does not constitute grounds for invalidating the evidence. According to judicial sources, the defense had argued that the lack of metadata, due to the videos being resent through a messaging service, undermined their reliability. In his written decision, Judge Rodríguez Ponte emphasized that procedural irregularities must directly affect constitutional guarantees or hinder the right to a fair defense to justify exclusion. He noted that while the inability to determine the exact date of the videos' creation might impact their weight as evidence, it does not automatically render them inadmissible. The judge concluded that the defense’s motion for nullification would not be granted, nor would the subsequent support from Cirio’s and another accused, Sofía Clérici’s, legal teams. The videos show Cirio walking through different areas of the dressing room, revealing bags, drawers, shelves, and a suitcase filled with stacks of cash. Investigators estimate the amount visible in the footage could approach $10 million, which will now be considered as unexplained assets in the case. This figure adds to existing discrepancies in Insaurralde’s financial records, where declared income during the relevant period was significantly less than the recorded expenses. Federal police confirmed that one of the videos was filmed in the hallway outside the dressing room of Insaurralde’s home in San Vicente. The footage was part of a broader set of seven videos that had been scrutinized following a forensic analysis conducted by the Directorate General of Investigations and Support for Technological Investigation (DATIP). The analysis indicated that tracing the origin of the files was not feasible, prompting the defense to question their admissibility. Prosecutors, however, supported the inclusion of the videos, aligning with the arguments presented by lead prosecutor Sergio Mola. The defense had raised doubts about the integrity of the evidence, particularly regarding the missing metadata. Despite these concerns, the judge ruled that the videos remain valid as part of the case. The case gained national attention when Clérici, Insaurralde’s travel companion, posted photos online of both individuals aboard the yacht El Bandido. Her post included criticism of two judges, Ernesto Kreplak and Luis A, who had previously ruled in favor of Insaurralde. The publication led to widespread scrutiny and eventually prompted prosecutors to appeal the earlier dismissal of Clérici from the case. With the validation of the videos, investigators can now proceed to assess the potential value of the displayed cash, which could further substantiate claims of illicit wealth accumulation. Financial experts had already identified inconsistencies in Insaurralde’s accounts, highlighting a disparity between reported earnings and documented expenditures. The judge’s decision ensures that this visual evidence will play a role in determining whether the funds depicted in the videos are linked to illegal activities.