What is Judge Peinado investigating?

The head of the Court of Instruction number 41 of Madrid, Juan Carlos Peinado, opened an investigation last April against Begoña Gómez – wife of the current president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez – for alleged crimes of influence peddling and corruption in business. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Madrid Court.

The complaint of influence peddling and corruption was filed by the far-right pseudo-union Clean handsand the investigating judge admitted it to the proceedings, without requesting a report from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which demanded that the case be filed. The Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard, for its part, saw no signs of crime in the actions of Begoña Gómez.

Clean Hands argued in its speech complaint that the wife of the President of the Spanish Government would have recommended or endorsed with her signature businessmen participating in public tenders.

In late April, the pseudo-union itself acknowledged in a statement that the complaint was based “on journalistic information and only on that.” Specifically, it included eight newspaper headlines and news published by the media The confidential, Populi vote, Digital freedom, Esdiario And The target.

According to the letter signed by the far-right organization’s general secretary, Miguel Bernad, “it will now be the investigating judge who must verify whether the aforementioned journalistic information is true or not.”

What is Judge Peinado investigating?

Judge Peinado has assured in an order that he is investigating “all actions, behaviors and conduct” performed by Begoña Gómez “since her husband is the president of the government contained in the original complaint” awarded by Manos Liminas for ventilating influence, in relation to a series of awards for businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés.

In any case, it has so far not provided further details about the contracts it is investigating.

Manos Limpes’ complaint was joined by the complaint of the ultra Hazte Oír association, also for influence peddling, which requested an investigation into whether Begoña Gómez abused her relationship with the President of the Spanish Government to “establish commercial and professional relationships with different companies and entities” or if it offered or exercised its influence in “the granting of public subsidies and aid.”

Other accusations that emerged in the case, such as Vox, also denounced other events, such as the alleged appropriation of software for the master’s degree program of the chair at the Complutense University of Madrid that she co-directed.

Who’s who in the Begoña Gómez case?

In addition to Begoña Gómez, investigations are being conducted into businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés and the rector of the Complutense University of Madrid, Joaquín Goyache.

Begoña Gomez Since 2020, he has been co-director of the Extraordinary Chair for Competitive Social Transformation of the Complutense University of Madrid, while also teaching the master’s degree given by this chair.

Businessman Juan Carlos Barrabès He was also a professor at the Master’s program at Complutense University, where Gómez was co-director. He is also the owner of the company Innova Next, which, according to various journalistic information collected in the complaint of Manos Cleanas, would have benefited from government aid after mediation and letters of support from Begoña Gómez.

Statement by Pedro Sánchez

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has summoned President Pedro Sánchez to testify as a witness. The testimony will take place this morning at 11:00 in the Moncloa Palace.

Sánchez requested a written statement in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act, a request that was denied.