US designates ex-Argentine president for 'involvement in significant corruption'

By WASHINGTON

The US designated Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and a former minister for "their involvement in significant corruption," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

The action renders Kirchner and former planning minister Julio Miguel De Vido and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the US, Rubio said in a statement.

They abused their positions by "orchestrating and financially benefitting from multiple bribery schemes" involving public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government, he said, adding multiple courts have convicted them for corruption.

"The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. These designations reaffirm our commitment to counter global corruption, including at the highest levels of government," Rubio added.