A high-profile trial has begun in the Madrid court that could affect the reputations of several influential figures. Among the defendants is former Socialist Party activist Leire Díez, suspected of orchestrating a scheme aimed at undermining the credibility of the Guardia Civil and the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office.
The presiding judge, Arturo Zamarriego, first heard testimony from two prosecutors—José Grinda and Ignacio Stampa—as well as Commander Rubén Villalba from the Guardia Civil. All three confirmed that Díez and her associates attempted to gain access to confidential information and influence the course of investigations involving politicians and business leaders.
At the center of attention—ties to the highest levels of power
Particular attention was drawn to details of a meeting held in May last year. According to prosecutor Stampa, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was mentioned several times, with Díez claiming he was concerned about a leak of information related to his family. The conversation also touched on audio recordings allegedly in the possession of former commissioner Villarejo and possible pressure on prosecutor’s office staff.
Prosecutors stated that Díez and businessman Javier Pérez Dolset presented themselves as envoys on behalf of the ruling party, claiming to act under orders from Sánchez. Their goal was to find out who controls the compromising materials, as well as to obtain information about colleagues and supervisors in the prosecutor’s office.
Pressure attempts and offers of positions
During the hearings, it emerged that one of the prosecutors had been pressured through an intermediary—a journalist who passed on an offer to take a position abroad in exchange for dropping investigations and sharing internal information. Leire Díez’s name surfaced in connection with this episode, further fueling suspicions about her involvement in attempts to interfere with anti-corruption investigations.
Civil Guard officer Villalba also gave a detailed account of his meeting with Díez, noting that their conversation touched on security issues and possible corruption schemes. All those present at the hearings agreed that Díez’s actions went beyond journalistic activity, which she cites in her defense.
What’s next for the case and what to expect
The investigation believes that Díez may have been involved in attempts to discredit key units investigating corruption. She is accused of bribery and abuse of influence. The accused insists that all meetings were part of her research for a book, but prosecutors say they found no evidence to support this.
New interrogations are expected soon: next week, Diez herself, entrepreneur Pérez Dolset, and a journalist involved in the case will testify in court. The judge already has audio recordings and notarized documents that could shed light on the details of what happened.
This case promises to become one of the most talked-about in recent Spanish legal history, with public trust in the very institutions meant to fight high-level corruption at stake.
