Leire Díez Denies Allegations of Corruption Amid Court Testimony

Leire Díez, a former member of Spain's Socialist Party (PSOE), faced a judge this Monday, acknowledging that she met with former PSOE Secretary Santos Cerdán twice, but asserted that these meetings were strictly in her role as a journalist. During her testimony, Díez distanced herself from the party, insisting on her innocence in ongoing allegations of influence peddling and bribery. As she appeared as an investigated party in the case, Díez responded only to questions posed by the judge, prosecutor, and her attorney. Accused of operating as a party fixer, she vehemently rejected claims connected to audio recordings that allegedly capture her offering favors in exchange for sensitive information about officials from Spain’s Civil Guard’s Central Operational Unit (UCO) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Díez denied any personal or professional relationship with Cerdán beyond their two meetings in 2024. She claimed that these interactions were rooted in her awareness of documents related to the Villarejo case, a significant investigation involving members of the PSOE. Moreover, she dismissed having any contact with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, except for incidental encounters at political rallies. The audios, which have become pivotal in the case, were described by Díez as manipulated. She has called for the release of all recordings from her meetings with prosecutor Ignacio Stampa, during which she was allegedly presented as a key figure from the PSOE and a close aide to Cerdán. However, Judge Arturo Zamarriego ruled against her request for the recordings in court. In these contested recordings, Díez appears to offer favors to businessman Alejandro Hamlyn in exchange for information about UCO officials. Judge Zamarriego has expressed concerns about Díez's involvement in a coordinated criminal operation with businessman Javier Pérez Dolset and journalist Pere Rusiñol, also under investigation. The trio is believed to have sought compromising information to potentially derail investigations affecting various politicians and business leaders. The case against Díez escalated following the publication of recordings where she is heard soliciting sensitive information. Allegations of bribery and attempts to manipulate the judicial process have been reported by prosecutors who filed formal complaints against her. A recording presented by prosecutor Stampa indicates that on May 7, Díez, alongside Pérez Dolset and businessman Luis del Rivero, had a meeting where sensitive information was discussed. During this encounter, she reportedly portrayed herself as Cerdán's righthand person, claiming she was in a position to influence PSOE perspectives on various matters. Additionally, Pérez Dolset alleged that, following the indictment of Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Sánchez, there was a push from the president to 'clean everything up without limit.' This included efforts to manipulate police reports and to intervene in evidence handling to protect those within the PSOE. Both Díez and Pérez Dolset asserted to Stampa that key political figures, including Sánchez, Minister of the Presidency Félix Bolaños, and Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz, would be kept in the loop regarding their activities. However, Díez denied those claims during her testimony in court. The implications of this case extend beyond Díez and her cohorts, touching upon broader concerns of political integrity and the potential politicization of the judicial system in Spain. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2