They rejected a request from Martín Insaurralde to remove the prosecutor investigating him for illicit enrichment and money laundering

A federal judge in Lomas de Zamora has rejected a request from former provincial chief of staff Martín Insaurralde to remove prosecutor Sergio Mola from the investigation into alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering known as "Yategate." The case involves Insaurralde, who was previously investigated for possible misuse of public funds and financial irregularities linked to a luxury trip with model Sofía Clerici. Judge Luis Armella ruled that the arguments presented by Insaurralde’s lawyers were insufficient to justify such a serious measure. The defense had accused Mola of acting without objectivity and of showing undue hostility toward the case. They claimed that the prosecutor's actions, including requesting an inquiry and seeking the detention of Insaurralde and his ex-wife Jesica Cirio, were disproportionate after new evidence emerged linking them to images showing large sums of cash in dollars. However, the judge determined that these claims did not meet the required standard to warrant removing Mola from the case. The ruling came after the prosecution submitted evidence involving newly discovered materials tied to the case. These included images that allegedly showed Insaurralde and Clerici in possession of substantial amounts of U.S. currency during their trip aboard the yacht "Bandido." The judge opted instead for alternative restrictive measures rather than granting the requested arrest warrants. Insaurralde’s legal team argued that Mola had lost his functional objectivity and pointed to what they described as excessive media leaks and actions that exceeded the needs of the investigation. They also questioned whether Mola had acted within his legal authority throughout the proceedings. Despite these allegations, Mola denied the criticisms and stated there were no legal grounds to disqualify him from handling the case. The "Yategate" investigation began in September 2023 following the release of photos showing Insaurralde traveling with Clerici on a luxury cruise through Marbella, Spain. At the time, Insaurralde was serving as head of the cabinet for Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof. He resigned shortly afterward amid the political fallout from the scandal, which occurred weeks before the presidential elections. The probe centers around two main charges: illicit enrichment, which seeks to determine whether a public official unjustifiably increased their wealth, and money laundering, aimed at uncovering efforts to conceal or legitimize the origin of suspected illegal funds. The investigation gained renewed momentum after the emergence of video footage depicting large quantities of U.S. currency, reigniting interest in the case. The judicial process has been marked by several attempts from Insaurralde’s defense to have Mola removed from the case. This latest effort represents the third such attempt. Mola, however, firmly opposed these requests, asserting that his actions were justified under his legal responsibilities and necessary for the progression of the investigation into potential misconduct involving public resources. Authorities have imposed travel restrictions on Insaurralde, Cirio, and Clerici as part of ongoing legal procedures related to the case. The investigation continues to unfold with further developments anticipated as more evidence comes to light and legal proceedings progress.