"In a decision released this morning, Judge Alejo Ramos Padilla of the Federal Court of Dolores, in Buenos Aires province, charged Santoro–an investigative journalist at national daily Clarín–with belonging to an 'illicit association dedicated to illegal espionage' and carrying out 'prohibited intelligence actions,' according to the court document, which CPJ reviewed. Last year, the court subpoenaed Santoro’s phone records and summoned him to appear as part of an investigation alleging that he participated in a scheme that sought to extort businesspeople by threatening negative news coverage, CPJ documented at the time...
Santoro has repeatedly denied any criminal misconduct...
'Argentine authorities should drop the criminal charges against Daniel Santoro and ensure criminal investigations do not threaten press freedom,' [said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick]."
