The investigation into accusations that Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez tried to cover up Iran’s alleged involvement in a 1994 bombing will go forward despite the death last month of the prosecutor on the case, authorities said on Friday.
Alberto Nisman was found dead in mysterious circumstances on Jan. 18, a day before he was due to face questions in Congress over his 289-page complaint against the president and her foreign minister, Hector Timerman.
“An investigation will be initiated with an eye toward substantiating … the accusations and whether those responsible can be held criminally responsible,” said a document published by state prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita, who will take on the case.
In the 61-page document, Pollicita said he saw sufficient evidence to press ahead with Nisman’s complaint against Fernandez.
It is still not known if Nisman killed himself or was murdered. Fernandez has branded his accusation that she conspired to whitewash his investigation “absurd.” She says Nisman was murdered by rogue state agents harboring a grudge who killed the prosecutor when he was no longer of use to them.
The Nisman scandal has shocked Argentina eight months ahead of October’s presidential election and dented Fernandez’s credibility. Fernandez is constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term.
