Lieutenant General Manuel Llamas testified Thursday before magistrate Santiago Pedraz that he did not exert pressure on the Unidad Central Operativa or order its agents to stand aside in investigations related to the PSOE or Pedro Sánchez's circle.
Llamas, deputy operational director of the Guardia Civil, appeared as an accused on charges of alleged prevarication and obstruction of justice. He denied receiving or transmitting pressure and framed the reserved information opened against UCO agents within the normal functioning of the force.
The DAO detailed that Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called him after the publication of Begoña Gómez's email addresses in a media outlet. He explained that he ordered an investigation to remove personal data that could affect the president of the Government.
The declaration of Guardia Civil director Mercedes González, also accused, was postponed to Friday due to the length of Llamas's interrogation. Judge Pedraz is instructing the case focused on alleged maneuvers to deter UCO investigations into the PSOE.