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Argentina: US Judge Cannot Hold Country in Contempt of Court


FILE - Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
FILE - Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Argentina on Monday asked the Obama administration to stop a federal judge from ordering the country to cease "false and misleading” statements about its recent debt default.

Judge Thomas Griesa in New York on Friday said he would hold the South American country in contempt of court if it continued to say it did not default on its debt July 30.

Argentina’s cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich argued Monday that the judge would violate Argentina’s sovereign immunity if he held the South American country in contempt.

Judge Griesa prevented last month's payment to bondholders after Argentina threatened to pay only those who had accepted its restructured debt.

Argentina last week filed a lawsuit against the United States in The Hague at the International Court of Justice. The lawsuit contends the U.S. violated Argentina's sovereignty by allowing a federal judge to interfere with its payment to bondholders.

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