Contractor reveals Adorni spent US$245,000 on house reforms

A contractor who carried out structural reforms on a house in a gated community purchased by Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni in 2024 said the government official spent US$245,000 on the works. Architect Matías Tabar’s statement was part of the testimony he gave to prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita during an inquiry that is investigating the chief of staff for alleged illicit enrichment. The ongoing case is looking into the assets and expenditures of Adorni and his wife Bettina Angeletti, since the Milei government came into power in December 2023. The investigation began shortly after the press revealed that Adorni had taken his wife on an official trip to New York alongside President Javier Milei, travelling on the presidential plane. While a court decided no crime was committed on that occasion, the scandal escalated as more trips made by the couple were revealed, in what became a judicial snowball for the chief of staff. The judiciary found that Adorni had purchased at least two properties he failed to declare, and that he had made several expensive trips with his family that didn’t appear to match his monthly income. The cost of the reform more than doubles what he initially paid for the house — US$120,000. The judiciary aims to find whether Adorni’s expenditures since he joined the government as presidential spokesman in late 2023 match his declared income and where he got the money from. Adorni has publicly said he has “committed no crime” and that he will only give explanations of his expenditures in court. The testimony Architect Matías Tabar, from the firm Alta Arquitectura, was summoned to court on Monday and brought a list with the details of the expenses of the works, which lasted 10 months. According to Tabar, Adorni paid US$245,929 in cash, in U.S. dollars. Alta Arquitectura did not issue invoices for the transactions, and no contract was signed, meaning there are no records. The contractor was in charge of a widespread structural reform at the 400 square meter house located inside the upscale gated community Indio Cuá, in Exaltación de la Cruz. Registers show it is under Angeletti’s name. The works included new floors, toilets and windows, painting of the inside and outside of the house, woodwork for new libraries, shelves and coffee tables, as well as structural reforms of the porch. In addition, the pool was completely renovated: it was filled in to make it shallower and lined with Bali stone and travertine marble. A water heating system was added for US$9,780, along with a waterfall for US$3,500. Images of the small waterfall went viral online. An offer During his testimony, Tabar said Adorni had contacted him on WhatsApp before he appeared in court and said they needed to talk. According to the architect, they spoke on the phone and the chief of staff offered to help him or provide advice from his legal team. Tabar said that while he initially considered accepting, he was advised against it and decided to turn down the offer to avoid appearing like he was collaborating with Adorni. After the revelation, national deputy Marcela Pagano — a former ally of President Javier Milei and current rival — filed a complaint before the judiciary demanding Adorni be arrested for “pressuring a witness” and “offering him beneffits in exchange for modifying his testimony.” Pagano requested his arrest on the grounds that his actions could obstruct the investigation.