A new round of confrontation is unfolding in Madrid between the Prosecutor’s Office and Judge Juan Carlos Peinado. The judge, who since spring 2024 has been overseeing the high-profile case against Begoña Gómez, the Prime Minister’s wife, is back in the spotlight. This time, he’s accused of attempting to broaden the scope of the investigation despite repeated bans from higher courts.
Prosecutors allege that Peinado is once again trying to revisit the issue of the government bailout of Air Europa, even though this line of inquiry has already been deemed unviable. According to the prosecution, the judge is acting on assumptions and unsubstantiated claims, only expanding an already extensive case.
Questionable grounds
In December 2025, the judge renewed his interest in the state aid granted to Air Europa during the height of the pandemic. The trigger was a complaint filed by a lawyer known for conspiracy theories, who claimed that Begoña Gómez has accounts in the Dominican Republic. Peinado ordered the Guardia Civil’s financial division to check for any new developments regarding this matter.
However, both the prosecution and Gómez’s defense consider these actions not only unfounded but dangerous. In their view, the judge is using a formal police request as a way to circumvent the ban on further investigation imposed by the provincial court. The prosecutor’s letter states plainly: “The case has already been reviewed and its substance remains unchanged.”
Prosecutors push back
In its statement, the prosecutor’s office does not mince words. It accuses Peinado of effectively refusing to perform his direct duties, shifting responsibility to the security forces. According to prosecutors, this approach more closely resembles a covert investigation than a standard information request.
Particular attention is paid to the lawyer whose complaint forms the basis of the renewed push to reopen the case. This attorney has previously tried to launch high-profile cases, relying on unverified media reports and rumors. Spain’s Supreme Court had already dismissed similar accusations, calling them unfounded.
Pressure on the court
The prosecutor emphasizes: if genuinely new circumstances had arisen, they would have been reported either by other judicial authorities or by the Guardia Civil itself. However, no new information has emerged. Nonetheless, the judge insists on pressing forward, a decision that puzzles both colleagues and Gómez’s defense team.
Begona Gomez’s lawyer, former minister Antonio Camacho, notes that Peinado’s attempts to include the Air Europa episode in the investigation have already been repeatedly deemed unfounded. According to him, the new complaint does not contain a single new fact that would justify reopening the probe.
No new evidence
The legal community in Madrid remains divided: why does the judge insist on continuing the investigation despite a lack of new evidence? Prosecutors are convinced that this is an attempt to pressure those involved in the case and delay the proceedings. Gómez’s defense argues that such actions undermine trust in the judicial system and set a dangerous precedent.
However, Peinado himself refrains from commenting on the situation. His supporters claim the judge is acting within the law and simply trying to untangle a complex financial scheme. Yet, most experts believe the case left the legal realm long ago and has turned into a political game.
Public response
Public opinion is split. Some believe judges must be able to probe any suspicions, especially when large amounts of public funds are involved. Others argue that investigations lacking solid evidence only distract from real issues and blur the line between justice and politics.
For now, the case against Begoña Gómez remains in limbo. Prosecutors are demanding an end to attempts to broaden the investigation, while the defense insists the Air Europa episode should be closed for good. Spain’s judicial system has once again found itself at the center of a high-profile scandal unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
