In 2018, long before becoming president, Javier Milei starred in an episode that ended in court and led to an order for psychological expertise issued by a judge in Salta. It all happened during a talk in the city of Metán, where the then economist reacted excessively to a question from a journalist, whom he ended up publicly insulting. The incident, recorded by local media, escalated quickly and was under investigation in the Family and Gender Violence jurisdiction.
The incident was triggered when the journalist asked him about his criticism of Keynesian policies. Milei responded upset and told her: “You’re saying something stupid and I’m trying to disastrate you… You don’t know anything, I’m just saying that you’re an idiot.” The attack caused discomfort among those present; some left the scene and others apologized to the professional. She described her attitude as an explosion motivated by the “ego of a TV studio and followers on Twitter,” according to the complaint.
The situation reached the hands of Judge Carmelo Paz, who summoned Milei and ordered him to undergo a psychological examination. He also prohibited him from giving talks or participating in panels in the city while the process progressed. The measure was issued under the provincial legislation for protection against gender violence and represented a setback for the economist, who had to appear in court accompanied by his lawyer.
As time went by, the case was archived, but it is always mentioned again since its content was never disseminated. The absence of public information about that evaluation raised new questions about a file that, although formally concluded, continues to be an object of interest due to Milei’s subsequent political rise.
