Lawyer Jacobo Teijelo is under investigation in the Leire Díez case. He claims legal defense rights are at risk, especially for those representing PSOE. The case highlights tensions over confidential client-lawyer relations.
Lawyer Jacobo Teijelo appeared as a suspect before Spain’s Audiencia Nacional this Thursday, accused of involvement in the high-profile Leire Díez case. The investigation, led by Judge Santiago Pedraz, centers on suspicions that Teijelo was part of a network allegedly aiming to disrupt judicial proceedings affecting the PSOE or the government. After a brief one-hour interrogation, Teijelo publicly warned that the right to confidential legal defense is under threat, particularly for lawyers working with the PSOE, and argued that these actions jeopardize citizens’ ability to consult their legal representatives in confidence.
During his testimony, Teijelo invoked professional secrecy and declined to provide details about his work for the PSOE. According to legal sources, he confirmed that the party paid him three invoices totaling €125,000, but later returned two additional invoices worth €53,000 after Santos Cerdán left the party due to his own legal troubles. Teijelo, who is currently defending Cerdán in a related case, also stated that he never made payments to Leire Díez.
The case has drawn attention since Judge Pedraz authorized a Guardia Civil operation in May targeting an alleged scheme led by Díez, a former PSOE member. The investigation has implicated several high-profile figures, including Ana Fuentes, the party’s manager; Santos Cerdán, former Organization Secretary; Gaspar Zarrías, ex-councillor of the Andalusian government; and businessman Javier Pérez Dolset. Teijelo faces accusations of revealing secrets, bribery, and crimes against state institutions. Police reports suggest he was assigned responsibility for a specific line of action within the group, with references to discussions about the annulment of the so-called Koldo case, which could have benefited the government.
Teijelo also acknowledged meeting with Diego Villafañe, a key aide to former Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz, in March and April 2025. The Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that Teijelo attended these meetings with a woman introduced as a colleague, later identified in the media as Leire Díez. Teijelo denied presenting Díez as a lawyer. During the first meeting, he reportedly informed the prosecution of potentially criminal acts by third parties, and in the second, he expressed his intention to file several related complaints. The Attorney General’s Office clarified that García Ortiz was only informed after the meetings and did not issue any instructions regarding the matter.
This legal battle comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for the PSOE’s internal legal affairs. The Leire Díez case has already seen significant developments, including Díez’s own readiness to testify independently, a move that has increased pressure on the party’s leadership. For further background on Díez’s position and its impact on the PSOE, see this analysis: Leire Díez’s independent testimony and its implications for the party.
Spain’s legal system recognizes strict confidentiality between lawyers and clients, a principle now at the center of public debate due to this case. The Audiencia Nacional is a special high court handling major criminal and political cases. The ongoing investigation into the alleged network involving Leire Díez and several PSOE figures continues to attract national attention, with potential consequences for legal practice and political accountability in Spain.
