Spanish High Court Dismisses Pedro Sánchez's Complaint Against Judge in Corruption Investigation
The Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of Madrid has dismissed a prevarication complaint filed by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez against Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is overseeing the investigation into allegations of influence peddling and business corruption involving Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez. This unanimous verdict was announced following a review of a report from the Prosecutors Office that supported the admission of Sánchez's complaint against Peinado and his deputy, Judge Carlos Valle.
The Civil and Criminal Chamber of the TSJ noted the complaint comes in light of two critical decisions: the first being Judge Peinado's summoning of Sánchez to testify in person regarding the ongoing Begoña Gómez case, and the latter being a decision that rejected the option for him to submit a written statement instead.
The State Attorney's Office contended that the summons for Sánchez to testify personally at La Moncloa on July 30 violated his legal rights under the Criminal Procedure Law, claiming that it stripped the Prime Minister of legal protections typically afforded during such proceedings. The complaint, accessed by Europa Press, argued that Sánchez, as the head of the executive, should only be summoned to testify in writing when the facts he is questioned about relate to his official capacity.
On the day the summons was issued, Sánchez appeared at La Moncloa, where he declined to provide testimony, citing Article 416 of the Criminal Procedure Law (LECrim). This article allows spouses of individuals being investigated to refrain from testifying.
The State legal representatives further asserted that Judge Peinado's decision to summon the Prime Minister was inappropriate, as there was a lack of justification in the ruling dated July 19 explaining why a written statement was not sufficient.
Despite the attempt by Sánchez to have the court invalidate the judge's actions, the TSJ's decision represents a significant moment in an ongoing investigation that has garnered extensive media coverage and public interest, reflecting ongoing tensions between the political landscape and judicial processes in Spain.
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