The $800k that was found by Argetine customs officials in August, which was subsequently said to have been contributions from the Venezuelan government to Cristina Fernandez’s presidential campaign and led to firings and resignations in the Argentine government and in the Argentine branch of the Venezuelan oil company, has erupted into a larger international row following charges in the US claiming that Venezuelan representatives were “conspiring to act as agents of the Venezuelan government in the U.S. without notifying the U.S. attorney general” in their efforts to pressure US citizens to keep quiet about the origins of the money. The US efforts seem to be motivated to damage Chavez. The US said its charges do not implicate Argentina or its president, but Cristina accused the US of meddling in Latin American affairs. The NYTimes article also notes:
It is not against Argentine law for foreigners to contribute to a presidential campaign, but it is illegal to do so secretly, Argentine officials said. It also is illegal to bring undeclared cash into the country, the officials said.