Menem was elected governor in 1973, when the proscription over Peronism was lifted.
He was deposed during the 1976 Argentine coup d'état that deposed the president Isabel Martínez de Perón.
He was accused of corruption, and having links with the guerrillas of the Dirty War.
He was detained on 25 March, kept for a week at a local regiment, and then moved to a temporary prison at the ship "33 Orientales" in Buenos Aires.
He was detained alongside former ministers Antonio Cafiero, Jorge Taiana, Miguel Unamuno, José Deheza, and Pedro Arrighi, the unionists Jorge Triaca, Diego Ibáñez, and Lorenzo Miguel, the diplomat Jorge Vázquez, the journalist Osvaldo Papaleo, and the former president Raúl Lastiri.
He shared a cell with Pedro Eladio Vázquez, Juan Perón's personal physician.
During this time he helped the chaplain Lorenzo Lavalle, despite being a Muslim.
In July he was sent to Magdalena, to a permanent prison.
His wife Zulema visited him every week, but rejected his conversion to Roman Catholicism.
His mother died during the time he was a prisoner, and dictator Jorge Rafael Videla denied his request to attend her funeral.
He was released on 29 July 1978, on the condition that he live in a city outside his home province without leaving it.
He settled in Mar del Plata.

Menem met Admiral Eduardo Massera, who intended to run for president, and had public meetings with personalities such as Carlos Monzón, Susana Giménez, and Alberto Olmedo.
As a result, he was forced to reside in another city, Tandil.
He had to report daily to Chief of Police Hugo Zamora.
This forced residence was lifted in February 1980.
He returned to Buenos Aires, and then to La Rioja.
He resumed his political activities, despite the prohibition, and was detained again.
His new forced residence was in Las Lomitas, in Formosa Province.
He was one of the last politicians to be released from prison by the National Reorganization Process.
Menem was elected governor in 1973, when the proscription over Peronism was lifted. He was deposed during the 1976 Argentine coup d'état that deposed the president Isabel Martínez de Perón. He was accused of corruption, and having links with the guerrillas of the Dirty War. He was detained on 25 March, kept for a week at a local regiment, and then moved to a temporary prison at the ship "33 Orientales" in Buenos Aires. He was detained alongside former ministers Antonio Cafiero, Jorge Taiana, Miguel Unamuno, José Deheza, and Pedro Arrighi, the unionists Jorge Triaca, Diego Ibáñez, and Lorenzo Miguel, the diplomat Jorge Vázquez, the journalist Osvaldo Papaleo, and the former president Raúl Lastiri. He shared a cell with Pedro Eladio Vázquez, Juan Perón's personal physician. During this time he helped the chaplain Lorenzo Lavalle, despite being a Muslim. In July he was sent to Magdalena, to a permanent prison. His wife Zulema visited him every week, but rejected his conversion to Roman Catholicism. His mother died during the time he was a prisoner, and dictator Jorge Rafael Videla denied his request to attend her funeral. He was released on 29 July 1978, on the condition that he live in a city outside his home province without leaving it. He settled in Mar del Plata.
Menem met Admiral Eduardo Massera, who intended to run for president, and had public meetings with personalities such as Carlos Monzón, Susana Giménez, and Alberto Olmedo. As a result, he was forced to reside in another city, Tandil. He had to report daily to Chief of Police Hugo Zamora. This forced residence was lifted in February 1980. He returned to Buenos Aires, and then to La Rioja. He resumed his political activities, despite the prohibition, and was detained again. His new forced residence was in Las Lomitas, in Formosa Province. He was one of the last politicians to be released from prison by the National Reorganization Process.
Carlos Menem