Begoña Gómez Faces Potential Jury Trials for Corruption Allegations

In a significant development in a burgeoning corruption scandal, Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has ordered that the case against Begoña Gómez, her assistant Cristina Álvarez, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés will proceed under jury court procedures. This decision, issued recently, indicates that if the evidence against the trio is confirmed, they will face a jury of their peers amid serious allegations of influence peddling, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption. This decision follows the judge's earlier ruling regarding a related matter concerning embezzlement linked to Gómez’s advisory role for her husband, the Prime Minister. It paves the way for potentially two separate jury trials for Gómez, adding to the growing scrutiny surrounding her professional conduct as the spouse of Spain's leader. The case began after the ultrafake union Manos Limpias lodged a complaint in April 2024, spurred by media reports that accused Gómez of leveraging her position to favor Barrabés, who allegedly benefited from public contracts through her recommendations. Reports suggested that Barrabés received two significant awards, allegedly due to Gómez's influence. However, a declaration of interest that Gómez signed—which Barrabés submitted in his tender—was merely an affirmation of collaboration between her educational program and Barrabés's training initiative. This standard procedure was not exclusive to Gómez; similar declarations were signed by others, including the director of the Madrid City Council's Employment Agency, indicating that the claims against her might be inflated. Further investigations by the European Prosecutors Office have come into play, particularly given the involvement of European funds tied to the contracts in question. Judge Peinado is now delving into whether Gómez had any undue influence over additional public contracts worth approximately 21 million euros that Barrabés's company secured. The inquiry also expands to consider possible intrusiveness on Gómez's part in relation to a document she signed for a tender at the Complutense University, where she co-directed a chair. Additionally, the judge is examining whether she committed embezzlement linked to using the logos of the master's programs she oversaw—each netting her a significant annual income. As this complex case unfolds, all eyes will be on the upcoming court proceedings, which promise to reveal more about the intertwining of politics, business, and ethics in contemporary Spain. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2