Giuseppe Conte under scrutiny for mask procurement and alleged US investigation links

Former Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte is facing renewed political pressure on two fronts. A parliamentary commission probing Covid‑19 mask procurement has highlighted questions about contracts worth billions of euros, the role of former emergency commissioner Domenico Arcuri, and alleged connections to law firms linked to Conte. Journalists, including Nicola Porro, have been barred from asking Conte direct questions, prompting accusations of intimidation and attracting public insults toward the reporters.

Separately, analysts revisit Conte’s 2019 shift from a coalition with the Lega to one with the Democratic Party, noting his alleged endorsement by former US President Donald Trump and speculation about his involvement in the US‑led “Russiagate” probe. The episode involved visits by US officials such as Attorney General William Barr and CIA director Gina Haspel, raising doubts about the depth of Italy‑US cooperation during that period.