Karina Milei, 52, has emerged from behind the scenes after several leaked audio recordings thrust Argentina’s presidential sister into the spotlight on Sept. 6, 2025 — stirring fresh allegations of financial impropriety even as President Javier Milei, 54, continues to publicly defend her and her role in running his party ahead of critical midterm elections.
Key Takeaways
- Leaked audio attributed to Karina Milei and other officials appeared in Argentine media in early September 2025, prompting judicial controls on their dissemination.
- Karina Milei serves as secretary of the presidency and leader of her brother’s political party; she has overseen campaign operations and internal discipline.
- Separate allegations link payments to the Milei circle in a cryptocurrency-related scandal that investors say cost them about $250 million.
- A Manhattan federal lawsuit filed in July 2025 cites text messages from an American consultant, Hayden Davis, alleging payments tied to access; Mr. Milei and his chief of cabinet have denied the payments.
- Her influence appears intact: Mr. Milei continues to call on her to manage political alliances and candidate selections as the administration prepares for midterms.
- Rumors and cultural commentary — including claims about spiritual practices — have circulated but lack verifiable evidence.
Verified Facts
Karina Milei, who previously worked in family businesses and as an executive in a tire company, took on a central managerial role in her brother’s rise from television pundit to president in 2023. She later became secretary of the presidency and the operational leader of his party, overseeing candidate choices and campaign logistics.
Multiple tapes surfaced in Argentine outlets in early September 2025. One recording attributed to Ms. Milei contained routine political messaging urging party unity; another tape, attributed to a different official, suggested she was involved in a scheme to profit from government contracts. Argentine judges issued a restriction on further media distribution of the recordings while their legality is examined.
Separately, a cryptocurrency-related scandal has produced a U.S. lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan in July 2025. Text messages reported in the suit, attributed to consultant Hayden Davis, claim funds were sent to people close to the president. Plaintiffs say the broader scheme left investors defrauded of roughly $250 million. President Milei and Guillermo Francos, his chief of cabinet, have denied that Karina Milei received payments.
Despite the controversies, Mr. Milei continues to publicly praise his sister and relies on her for political decisions. Multiple politicians and insiders — some speaking on background because of concerns about reprisal — describe an unusually tight operational bond between the siblings, with Karina acting as gatekeeper and day-to-day manager of the president’s political agenda.
Context & Impact
The revelations arrive weeks before a decisive midterm vote that will test Mr. Milei’s capacity to pass an ambitious program of spending cuts and anti-inflation measures. Karina Milei’s leadership of the party makes her central to coalition-building and candidate selection ahead of that vote.
The episode has amplified public debate over transparency and influence in the Milei administration. Protests and chants naming Ms. Milei have appeared in Buenos Aires, and coverage ranges from legal analysis to cultural commentary about her private life and public reticence.
Observers note contrasts with historical Argentine first ladies: unlike Eva Perón’s public profile, Ms. Milei operates largely out of view, focusing on organization rather than public policy rhetoric. That behind-the-scenes power raises questions about accountability and how informal influence is monitored in the current government.
Official Statements
“She did not receive any payments,”
Guillermo Francos, Chief of Cabinet
“I deny any personal financial wrongdoing and stand by Karina,”
President Javier Milei
Unconfirmed
- The authenticity of all leaked audio clips has not been independently verified by forensic experts.
- Direct financial transfers to Karina Milei alleged in third-party messages remain disputed and denied by the Milei administration.
- Claims about Ms. Milei’s spiritual practices or supernatural influence are anecdotal and unsupported by evidence.
Bottom Line
The leaked recordings and related allegations have elevated Karina Milei from a mostly private political operator to a central public figure in Argentina’s unfolding political drama. With the midterm elections looming, the incidents will likely intensify scrutiny of the Milei administration’s internal networks and raise pressure for clear, documented answers about financial ties and the provenance of the recordings.