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Argentine President Now Says Prosecutor’s Death Was Not a Suicide Argentine President Now Says Prosecutor’s Death Was Not a Suicide
(about 2 hours later)
BUENOS AIRES — Confronted with a deepening scandal, the president of Argentina abruptly reversed herself on Thursday, saying that the death of the lead prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center was not a suicide as she and other government officials had suggested.BUENOS AIRES — Confronted with a deepening scandal, the president of Argentina abruptly reversed herself on Thursday, saying that the death of the lead prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center was not a suicide as she and other government officials had suggested.
The president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, instead suggested that the prosecutor’s death was part of what she hinted was a sinister plot to defame and destroy her. Instead, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner suggested that the prosecutor’s death was part of what she hinted was a sinister plot to defame and destroy her.
The president’s critics denounced her change of position, which added a major new twist into the suspicious death of the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, whose body was found in his luxury apartment in Buenos Aires late Sunday with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The president’s change of position added a major new twist into the suspicious death of the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, whose body was found in his luxury apartment in Buenos Aires late Sunday with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
“As the days go by, instead of knowing more, we know less,” Carlos Pagni, a political commentator, wrote in a column in La Nación newspaper, in which he pointed to the case’s “tide of unknown quantities.”
Mr. Nisman had long accused Iran of planning and financing the 1994 attack, which left 85 people dead. But this month he intensified his claims, accusing Mrs. Kirchner and top aides of trying to subvert his 10-year investigation into the bombing — allegations that the government has flatly rejected.Mr. Nisman had long accused Iran of planning and financing the 1994 attack, which left 85 people dead. But this month he intensified his claims, accusing Mrs. Kirchner and top aides of trying to subvert his 10-year investigation into the bombing — allegations that the government has flatly rejected.
Using transcripts of intercepted phone calls, Mr. Nisman asserted that the government had pursued a secret deal with Iran to exchange Iranian oil for Argentine grains — and to shield Iranian officials from charges that they had orchestrated the bombing.Using transcripts of intercepted phone calls, Mr. Nisman asserted that the government had pursued a secret deal with Iran to exchange Iranian oil for Argentine grains — and to shield Iranian officials from charges that they had orchestrated the bombing.
Mr. Nisman had been scheduled to testify to lawmakers about his accusations on Monday. News of his death, just hours before that widely anticipated testimony, stunned Argentina and immediately raised suspicions of a political cover-up to protect the president.Mr. Nisman had been scheduled to testify to lawmakers about his accusations on Monday. News of his death, just hours before that widely anticipated testimony, stunned Argentina and immediately raised suspicions of a political cover-up to protect the president.
Thousands of Argentines took to the streets after Mr. Nisman’s death was announced, not only to show their anger at the unsolved bombing, which is widely considered a national disgrace, but to demand a full and transparent investigation into Mr. Nisman’s death.Thousands of Argentines took to the streets after Mr. Nisman’s death was announced, not only to show their anger at the unsolved bombing, which is widely considered a national disgrace, but to demand a full and transparent investigation into Mr. Nisman’s death.
After having suggested that his death appeared to be a suicide, Mrs. Kirchner’s new explanation on Thursday was contained in a letter posted on her website, saying that Mr. Nisman had been manipulated by others to smear her.After having suggested that his death appeared to be a suicide, Mrs. Kirchner’s new explanation on Thursday was contained in a letter posted on her website, saying that Mr. Nisman had been manipulated by others to smear her.
“They used him while he was alive and then they needed him dead,” Mrs. Kirchner wrote in the letter, which she subtitled, in part: “The suicide (that I am convinced) was not suicide.”“They used him while he was alive and then they needed him dead,” Mrs. Kirchner wrote in the letter, which she subtitled, in part: “The suicide (that I am convinced) was not suicide.”
The president offered no clear explanation or evidence as to who might have been responsible.The president offered no clear explanation or evidence as to who might have been responsible.
Officials in Mrs. Kirchner’s government have dismissed Mr. Nisman’s assertions about a secret deal with Iran, saying that he had been manipulated by Antonio Stiusso, a former senior intelligence official ousted by the president in December.Officials in Mrs. Kirchner’s government have dismissed Mr. Nisman’s assertions about a secret deal with Iran, saying that he had been manipulated by Antonio Stiusso, a former senior intelligence official ousted by the president in December.
Héctor Timerman, Argentina’s foreign minister, said that contrary to Mr. Nisman’s claims, the government had never tried to get Interpol to lift the arrest warrants against Iranian officials wanted in connection with the attack.Héctor Timerman, Argentina’s foreign minister, said that contrary to Mr. Nisman’s claims, the government had never tried to get Interpol to lift the arrest warrants against Iranian officials wanted in connection with the attack.
Mr. Timerman noted that he had released an email from Ronald Noble, the secretary general of Interpol from 2000 through 2014, agreeing that Mr. Timerman and the Argentine government had been “consistent and unwavering” in arguing that the arrest warrants should remain in place.Mr. Timerman noted that he had released an email from Ronald Noble, the secretary general of Interpol from 2000 through 2014, agreeing that Mr. Timerman and the Argentine government had been “consistent and unwavering” in arguing that the arrest warrants should remain in place.
“It was not only me, but the head of Interpol that denied the charge,” Mr. Timerman said, referring to Mr. Nisman’s claim that the deal with Iran fell apart because Argentina failed to persuade Interpol to lift the warrants.“It was not only me, but the head of Interpol that denied the charge,” Mr. Timerman said, referring to Mr. Nisman’s claim that the deal with Iran fell apart because Argentina failed to persuade Interpol to lift the warrants.
Investigators looking into Mr. Nisman’s death have not ruled out any possibility. But conflicting news reports about the circumstances that preceded the discovery of his body, slumped in the bathroom of his 13th floor apartment, have fed suspicions that he may have been killed. In a 289-page criminal complaint written before his death, Mr. Nisman said that Mr. Timerman had met with Iran’s foreign minister in Aleppo, Syria, in January 2011. At the meeting, the complaint says, Mr. Timerman told his Iranian counterpart that Argentina no longer wanted to support the bombing investigation, choosing to pursue the secret trade deal instead.
But Mr. Timerman countered that trade with Iran had already picked up by 2007, well before the secret talks asserted in the complaint, a point supported by data provided by Argentina’s trade chamber.
Investigators looking into Mr. Nisman’s death have not ruled out any possibility. But conflicting news reports about the circumstances that preceded the discovery of his body, slumped in the bathroom of his 13th-floor apartment, have fed suspicions that he may have been killed.
On Wednesday, for example, news reports described a previously undisclosed third entry point to Mr. Nisman’s apartment, which had been initially reported by investigators as having only two entrances — a main door and service door — that were both locked at the time of Mr. Nisman’s death.On Wednesday, for example, news reports described a previously undisclosed third entry point to Mr. Nisman’s apartment, which had been initially reported by investigators as having only two entrances — a main door and service door — that were both locked at the time of Mr. Nisman’s death.
The third entry point, described as a maintenance door, leads to a small passageway for repairing air conditioning units, and a footprint and another unspecified print were discovered in this passageway, these reports said. The third entry point, described as a maintenance door, leads to a small passageway for repairing air-conditioning units, and a footprint and another unspecified print were discovered in this passageway, these reports said.
In addition, a friend who lent Mr. Nisman the pistol that fired the fatal bullet was quoted as saying that Mr. Nisman had asked him for the weapon because Mr. Stiusso had warned him that he was in danger.In addition, a friend who lent Mr. Nisman the pistol that fired the fatal bullet was quoted as saying that Mr. Nisman had asked him for the weapon because Mr. Stiusso had warned him that he was in danger.
In another twist, the locksmith summoned by Mr. Nisman’s mother for assistance in gaining entry to his apartment on Sunday night, which led to the discovery of his body, claimed that the service door was not actually locked when he arrived.In another twist, the locksmith summoned by Mr. Nisman’s mother for assistance in gaining entry to his apartment on Sunday night, which led to the discovery of his body, claimed that the service door was not actually locked when he arrived.
But Viviana Fein, the prosecutor leading the investigation, later dismissed this, explaining that the service door had multiple locks. Viviana Fein, the prosecutor leading the investigation, later dismissed this, explaining that the service door had multiple locks.
Ms. Fein insisted on Thursday that she was treating Mr. Nisman’s death as “suspicious.” There have been no arrests. Ms. Fein insisted on Thursday that she was treating Mr. Nisman’s death as suspicious. There have been no arrests.
The president’s political opposition denounced her latest public opining on Mr. Nisman’s death. Elisa Carrió, an outspoken congresswoman, said it reflected a “lack of seriousness,” a charge often leveled at her government by Argentines unhappy with her administration.The president’s political opposition denounced her latest public opining on Mr. Nisman’s death. Elisa Carrió, an outspoken congresswoman, said it reflected a “lack of seriousness,” a charge often leveled at her government by Argentines unhappy with her administration.
Ms. Carrió said that the only consistent theme in Mrs. Kirchner’s change of message was ensuring that “the blame lies with the victim.”Ms. Carrió said that the only consistent theme in Mrs. Kirchner’s change of message was ensuring that “the blame lies with the victim.”
Francisco de Narváez, another critic in Congress, questioned whether Mrs. Kirchner’s written remarks constituted executive pressure on a legal investigation, often viewed as an endemic problem here. The president “has no right to intervene in the independence of the justice system,” Mr. de Narváez said.Francisco de Narváez, another critic in Congress, questioned whether Mrs. Kirchner’s written remarks constituted executive pressure on a legal investigation, often viewed as an endemic problem here. The president “has no right to intervene in the independence of the justice system,” Mr. de Narváez said.
The president’s decision to post her latest remarks on her personal website has renewed criticism of the government’s communications strategy.The president’s decision to post her latest remarks on her personal website has renewed criticism of the government’s communications strategy.
Mrs. Kirchner has not appeared in public since Mr. Nisman’s death, and her vice-president has been visiting Bolivia. She posted a link to her latest remarks on Twitter. When she first wrote about Mr. Nisman on Tuesday, it was on her Facebook page, leading Mr. de Narváez to call her leadership “adolescent.” Mrs. Kirchner has not appeared in public since Mr. Nisman’s death, and her vice president has been visiting Bolivia. She posted a link to her latest remarks on Twitter. When she first wrote about Mr. Nisman on Tuesday, it was on her Facebook page, leading Mr. de Narváez to call her leadership “adolescent.”