The businessman close to President Javier Milei, Mauricio Novelli, rejected the accusations related to the crypto scandal known as LIBRA gate. According to a report by The New York Times, Novelli was mentioned as the person who facilitated meetings in exchange for money. However, the owner of Tech Forum, where Milei shared space with entrepreneurs from the crypto world, clarified that he never charged for organizing meetings at the Casa de Gobierno nor did he profit from trading Libra.
Novelli stated that the Tech Forum was a key networking event for the crypto ecosystem, aimed at bringing together technology companies, investors, and financial leaders, and that participation in the event was free, funded solely by the support of private companies. For more direct access, some companies had to pay an additional fee for greater visibility before investors and key players in the technology field.
In the midst of the controversy, Novelli expressed his complete peace of mind about his actions, emphasizing that neither he nor anyone at Tech Forum handled or managed Libra funds. As a figure connected between the President and the company behind the cryptocurrency Libra, Novelli is one of the main individuals pointed out in the investigation led by federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano.
The New York Times revealed that several crypto entrepreneurs received requests for money for meetings with the President, with Novelli identified as an intermediary in these payments. Amounts of up to $50,000 were mentioned for participating as a speaker and having a "meet and greet" with the head of state. Novelli vehemently denied charging for facilitating these meetings and explained that the costs associated with participation as a sponsor reflected the quality and exclusivity of the event.
In a statement, Novelli categorically denied the accusations, calling them a "total lie" and highlighting that participation in the event was transparent and funded by private sponsors, excluding any improper handling of funds related to Libra.
