Osaka restaurant in Puerto Madero, located on the ground floor of the Molinos Building complex owned by Alan Faena, is one of Buenos Aires’ most exclusive sushi spots. When customers wait to be seated and try to connect to the WiFi network, they get a surprise that won’t go unnoticed by an attentive political eye. One of the visible networks is called OCPTECH – all in one word and in capitals. OCP Tech is the company owned by businessman Leonardo Scatturice, a man who enjoys excellent access to Javier Milei’s government and has twice featured on the cover of Noticias magazine’s cover this year.
The firm is where Barry Bennett, the protagonist of this story, conducts his business. He is Scatturice’s partner and, since 2016, has worked as a lobbyist tied to the Republican Party in the United States, with strong connections to US President Donald Trump.
On October 8, Bennett led a meeting at OCP Tech’s Puerto Madero offices attended by, among others, lawmakers Miguel Ángel Pichetto, Cristian Ritondo and Rodrigo De Loredo, as revealed by journalist Carlos Pagni in a report. During the conversation, Bennett spoke as if he were an envoy of the US government, laying down the line that the Trump administration was ready to support Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
Bennett’s remarks were later confirmed during Milei’s visit to the United States. He said Washington’s backing would depend on the La Libertad Avanza leader’s ability to guarantee political stability. To achieve that, he explained, the Casa Rosada would have to forge agreements with moderate congressional blocs and allied governors.
Milei’s top presidential advisor Santiago Caputo listened attentively, moving with ease around Scatturice’s offices.
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