The keys to the judge's controversial investigation into the Begoña Gómez case

MadridJudge Juan Carlos Peinado's attempt to have the Supreme Court investigate the Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, is the latest move in a controversial instruction that Moncloa does not hide from placing in the context of the lawfare. In fact, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez even filed a complaint for malfeasance against the judge.

Accumulation of facts to be investigated

About the subsidies to a Gómez partner in the Complutense chair

The Begoña Gómez case began with a complaint from Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) based on media reports. Initially, Peinado opened proceedings for two reasons: on the one hand, alleged influence peddling in the rescue of Air Europa; and on the other, because she prepared letters of recommendation for Juan Carlos Barrabés, Gómez's partner in the chair he directed at the Complutense University and a recipient of subsidies from the public company Red.es. The case has subsequently expanded, and is also investigating alleged misappropriation of a Complutense University program, as well as the hiring of Gómez's assistant, Cristina Álvarez, from the Moncloa government for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

The Provincial Court's corrections

The higher court has limited the investigation

Already in May 2024, a month after the case was opened, the Provincial Court of Madrid made an initial correction to Peinado's case and determined that he should close the part of the investigation related to the Air Europa bailout. The judge has not taken this decision from the higher court into account and in a recent ruling a month ago had to remind him of this clarification. The Spanish government, the Prosecutor's Office, and Gómez's defense team have considered that Peinado was investigating a general and prospective case., although the Provincial Court has not endorsed this theory.

Dubious accusations

Currently, the following people are being investigated in the case: Begoña Gómez, advisor Cristina Álvarez, businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, and the Spanish government's representative in Madrid, Francisco Martín, who succeeded Bolaños as Secretary General of the Presidency of the Spanish government. Last May, the Madrid Court of Appeals annulled the charges against the rector of the Complutense University, Joaquín Goyache, and the director of the Instituto de Empresa (IE), Juan José Güemes, whom it had indicted after having summoned them to testify as witnesses, in which they were required to tell the truth.

According to the Court of Appeals, there were no objective incriminating facts regarding Goyache in relation to the professorship and the master's programs that Gómez directed at the Complutense University. Regarding Güemes, he had decided to investigate him for an alleged contradiction with the IE human resources director about whether Gómez had been hired because she was the wife of the Spanish president. It turned out that no one had said so; it was Peinado who distorted the witness statements.

Far-right agitators in the corridors

Vito Quiles snuck into Gómez's statement thanks to the ultra accusations

One of Gómez's appearances at the Plaza Castilla courthouse in July of last year was marked by the leak of images of Sánchez's partner in the hallways and courtroom. This was made possible by the infiltration of far-right activist Vito Quiles, who gained entry to the building thanks to the far-right groups acting as private prosecutors, such as Hazte Oír, Manos Limpias, and Vox. In fact, Santiago Abascal's party was also able to attend the Moncloa Palace during Pedro Sánchez's testimony.

Visits to the Moncloa Palace

Peinado forced Sánchez and Bolaños to testify in person.

Judge Peinado has also been criticized for the spectacularization of the statements made by Pedro Sánchez and Félix Bolaños, both of whom were questioned in person at the Moncloa Palace. The law provides that the Spanish president can testify via videoconference, but the judge wanted to drive into the presidential complex with all the pomp and in front of the cameras.