Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz Defends Actions Amid Political Turmoil

The Attorney General of Spain's State, Álvaro García Ortiz, has strongly defended himself against allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that he has committed no crime. His statements come amidst a politically charged atmosphere, where his actions are being criticized as part of a larger campaign orchestrated by the Community of Madrid to portray Isabel Díaz Ayuso's significant other as a victim of political machinations. García Ortiz's defense is centered on a document submitted to the Supreme Court, which seeks to challenge accusations asking for a prison sentence of between four to six years for allegedly leaking an email dated February 2, 2024. This email, allegedly written by Alberto González Amador's lawyer—the partner of Ayuso—confessed to tax fraud in a bid to collaborate with the Prosecutor's Office on a plea deal. The defense argues that the actions of García Ortiz do not amount to any criminal offense and that there is no basis for criminal responsibility, requesting his full acquittal from charges of revealing secrets. The document asserts that the communications maintained by García Ortiz were in exercise of his lawful powers as Attorney General, aimed at protecting the integrity and reputation of the Prosecutor’s Office and its personnel, which have been subject to a misinformation campaign. This campaign, as outlined in the defense’s submissions, is purportedly a strategic operation launched from within the Community of Madrid, seeking to undermine the potential political fallout from the upcoming publication of a complaint against González Amador for defrauding the tax office of over €350,000. The Attorney General’s team emphasizes that this maneuver aims to reposition Ayuso’s partner as a victim of political harassment, claiming that the narrative of persecution was deliberately crafted and disseminated through media channels by Ayuso's chief of staff. In his defense, García Ortiz acknowledges that he took measures to acquire the email correspondence between the prosecutor and González Amador’s lawyer to dispel misleading information circulating in the media. Notably, the document mentions a skewed article published by El Mundo on March 13, alleging that the Prosecutor’s Office initiated the plea deal, thus casting aspersions on the integrity of García Ortiz and the institution he represents. The Attorney General's office points to the widespread access the email had received—indicating that up to 600 individuals may have accessed it due to it being forwarded to a generic Prosecutor’s Office account—seeking to alleviate concerns regarding confidentiality breaches. The defense contends that the crucial piece of evidence misinterpreted in Judge Ángel Hurtado's focus was the email leak, and insists that the Attorney General's actions have always been motivated by the need for transparency and truth amidst the false narratives pointing fingers at his office. In finally addressing concerns regarding his mobile device, García Ortiz explains that he regularly deletes data in line with his duties. He also highlights privacy considerations following the leaks of sensitive information from a UCO report. García Ortiz's attorney argues that the justified actions taken were necessary to restore order and accuracy to a situation muddied by intentional misinformation. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2