Supreme Court Testimony: Key Player in Madrid Scandal Faces Scrutiny
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Chief of Staff to the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, arrived at the Supreme Court at 9:30 AM to testify as a witness in a controversial case involving Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz. The case centers on an alleged leak concerning Díaz Ayuso's partner, Alberto González Amador, prompting Rodríguez to assert, 'The truth always forward' before entering the Palace of Salesas.
Rodríguez, accompanied by a few associates and without legal counsel, emphasized his obligation to speak truthfully as a summoned witness and expressed his willingness to share any relevant information he possesses. When questioned about the possibility of facing indictment, he responded incredulously, 'Why?' He firmly maintained that there is no evidence against him.
The inquiry is particularly concerning the complaint filed by the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) regarding Rodriguez's alleged breach of confidentiality while revealing information about two journalists from El País, a complaint that surfaced ten months after the alleged incident. Rodríguez remarked that the delayed nature of the complaint was 'a bit strange.'
The case's instructor, Ángel Hurtado, summoned Rodríguez along with several journalists as witnesses to comply with a request from García Ortiz and Madrid’s provincial prosecutor's office, led by Pilar Rodríguez. They believe these testimonies could illuminate the suspicious leak of emails between González Amador's defense and the prosecution concerning tax crime investigations.
The State Attorney General has indicated that there are signs Rodríguez accessed at least some of the compromised emails, which first came to light around March 13. An article from eldiarioes on October 17 accused Rodríguez of disclosing secret information to multiple media outlets prior to a denial from the prosecutor's office, igniting further scrutiny into his actions.
Rodríguez, a key figure in this case, tweeted about the events of March 13, suggesting a conspiracy within the judicial framework: 'Summary of today's craziness.' Notably, he cited instances where he contradicted the prosecutor's narrative in subsequent social media posts.
On behalf of the prosecutors, it was claimed that Rodríguez shared false information regarding the actions taken by the prosecutor's office. His testimony is pivotal in clarifying his access to emails, the source of that access, the information he communicated, and the identity of anyone with prior knowledge of the leaked content before the emails became public around 9:54 PM on March 13.
The investigation has also resulted in a call for testimonies from eight journalists who reported on the emails, with two appearing before the court on Wednesday and the remaining six scheduled for Thursday. The attorney general's office seeks to identify who initially leaked the email details and pinpoint the timing of their release—issues critical for resolving this procedural puzzle.
For context, on March 13, El Mundo reported that an agreement had been proposed to González Amador by the prosecutor's office, while La Sexta reported further developments shortly after, raising suspicions regarding the timeline and possible collusion among those handling the leak.
The case was originally prompted by a press release from the Madrid Prosecutor's Office on March 14, aiming to refute earlier claims made by media outlets. As the unfolding events hint at mischaracterizations and potential misconduct, the inquiries are expected to further unravel the layers of this complex legal saga, which embroils high-ranking officials and prominent media personalities alike.
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