Spanish Judge Orders Begoña Gómez to Face Corruption Trial, Surrender Passport
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 20
Spanish Judge Orders Begoña Gómez to Face Corruption Trial, Surrender Passport
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 20
Summary
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial on influence-peddling and corruption charges, surrender her passport and report to court every two weeks.
Peinado said Gómez posed a flight risk and accused her of using her position to sway government contracts for technology companies, misusing public funds in hiring a consultant and improperly using software at a public university.
No trial date has been set, but a businessman allegedly helped by the contracts and the consultant who worked for Gómez were also ordered to stand trial.
Pedro Sánchez and his Socialist Party called the case a politically driven smear campaign, while the conservative People’s Party demanded the government resign and urged an early election.
The ruling deepens legal and political pressure on Sánchez’s government before a general election due by next year, after a two-year investigation launched from a complaint by pressure group Manos Limpias.