Spanish Judge Denies U.S. Request for Information in Plus Ultra Case Involving Former Prime Minister Zapatero

In a significant development in the ongoing Plus Ultra case, the National Court Judge José Luis Calama has temporarily rejected a request from the United States for information regarding the mobile phone of Rodolfo Reyes, a former councilor of the airline being investigated. This request was initially made by former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is facing scrutiny for his alleged role in facilitating a €53 million bailout to the airline. As reported by Europa Press, Judge Calama dismissed Zapatero’s attempt via a formal written statement which urged the magistrate to seek further details from the United States concerning access to Reyes's mobile phone. His request included inquiries about the methods for cloning the phone's data and transferring its content back to Spain. The judge expressed concerns about upholding procedural guarantees, stating that without a response to a prior legal cooperation request submitted to the U.S., it would be impossible to make an informed decision on the matter. The phone of Rodolfo Reyes, who is currently missing and subject to an Interpol arrest warrant, is a crucial source of evidence in this case. The investigation hinges on the contents of his mobile device, which may hold vital information pertinent to the claims against various officials involved. In a parallel development, former Prime Minister Zapatero has sent Judge Calama a letter granting his express consent for the magistrate to pursue additional documentation or information from any administrative or financial authorities beyond Spain. This generous authorization comes after Zapatero's testimony before the judge, where he distanced himself from allegations linking him to offshore activities, specifically the suggestion that he had a role in creating a shell company in Dubai. In his defense, Zapatero firmly denied owning any companies abroad and sought to clarify that he had no involvement in setting up an offshore entity as suggested in the judge's indictment ruling. Calama had alleged that this company could have facilitated the transfer of €530,000, which correlates with 1% of the bailout amount, to a purported network in exchange for efforts to obtain government aid for Plus Ultra. The unfolding legal scene continues to attract attention as the implications for those involved could significantly impact political dynamics in Spain. Stakeholders await responses from the U.S. legal system and further judicial proceedings that could lead to heightened scrutiny of past government actions and accusations of impropriety surrounding the controversial bailout. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2