Adorni faces the press again as journalists allowed back into Casa Rosada

The Argentine government allowed the press to enter the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada, once again after suspending access for eleven days after an accredited journalist recorded a video inside the building using smart glasses. On Monday, Chief of Staff and former presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said the recording, aired on news channel Todo Noticias (TN), was a “serious security breach” because the reporter used “a spy camera in non-authorized areas” and showed it on TV. However, the images shown by TN were only of areas that the press and any visitor can access when entering the Casa Rosada. Accredited reporters from TN and sister channel Eltrece were not allowed to enter, despite having received access confirmation via email. “From the start, this government has opened the doors of the Casa Rosada to press,” Adorni said, questioning statements made by journalists about how the ban on press access to the building was “a supposed threat against press freedom.” The press conference comes as the Chief of Staff is under investigation for alleged illicit enrichment after it was revealed that he has at least two undeclared properties and made several expensive trips that may not match his declared income. The decision to ban access to all journalists was unprecedented in Argentine history.  Days before, the government had suspended the accreditation of reporters from media outlets that are under investigation for allegedly receiving payments to push pro-Russia content, and discredit the Milei government. New restrictions The reopening of access to journalists and the press room inside Casa Rosada came with several new restrictions for those working there, which Adorni said were ordered by Casa Militar, the state body in charge of the security of government officials. The measures include blocked access to certain areas journalists could access before, like the “Patio de las Palmeras,” an indoors patio in the center of the building that is key for reporters as it allows them to see who enters the Casa Rosada and the surrounding hallways. Before the ban, accredited reporters entered the building through the same door used by staff and government officials and only had to place their fingerprint on a reader to enter the Casa Rosada. On Monday, those who went to cover the press conference were made to enter through another door, further away from the main entrance, and went through a rigorous and unprecedented security operation. As reported by accredited journalists Cecilia Camarano and Tatiana Scorciapino, from Herald sister outlets Ámbito and C5N, security only allowed those included in a list to enter the building, after which their belongings were scanned twice.  Security also asked to see their IDs and a credential, which they now have to show at every control point. That credential was not mandatory before. You may also be interested in: Argentina falls 11 places in World Press Freedom Index In addition, frosted screens were installed on certain windows to block vision, namely those in a sector that allows a view of a balcony that oversees the Patio de las Palmeras. Access to the balcony was also blocked. The only places reporters can now access are the press room, bathrooms, the cafeteria and dining room, and a small patio. This “not only alters work routine, but also the possibility of direct interaction with government officials and sources,” Camarano said in her article. Adorni’s defense Adorni said these measures “do not censor freedom of expression nor threaten journalism” and that “everything will go back to normal” if no other issue similar to the smart glasses recording occurs. “We fully support press freedom and are the government that has promoted it the most, but we will not allow actions that put national security at risk to be carried out in its name,” Adorni said. During the press conference, he also made some government announcements and said he would not answer questions about the ongoing illicit enrichment investigation against him, which he said are “personal matters.” The chief of staff stated he has already given explanations and that, if he were to make further comments, he would only do so in court because he is “not allowed” to speak about the case openly due to the ongoing investigation.