Judge Juan Carlos Peinado informed parties in the Begoña Gómez case that any trial would be before a jury. Defenses for the wife of the Spanish prime minister, her advisor Cristina Álvarez, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés demanded dismissal of the case, as did the prosecution. Accusing parties called for further inquiries.
On Wednesday during Holy Week, Madrid's Juzgado de Instrucción 41 held a hearing where Judge Juan Carlos Peinado notified parties that proceedings against Begoña Gómez, Cristina Álvarez, and Juan Carlos Barrabés would go to a jury trial if it proceeds. This marks the second such procedure, following unification of investigation pieces ordered on March 20.
Gómez's lawyer, Antonio Camacho, demanded outright dismissal and announced three expert reports: on advisors' roles for presidents' spouses at La Moncloa, operations of extraordinary chairs at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), and alleged economic harm to the UCM. "Flaco favor se está haciendo a la imagen de la Justicia" -- a poor service is being done to the image of Justice -- Camacho stated, per legal sources. He refuted each of the five charges: malversación, tráfico de influencias, corrupción en los negocios, apropiación indebida de marca, and intrusismo profesional, calling the probe a "déjà vu" and "nightmare".
Manos Limpias, which filed the initial complaint, sought dismissal against Álvarez and, for Gómez, retention only of malversación and tráfico de influencias, dropping the other three and adding prevaricación. Álvarez's defense requested a La Moncloa certificate on her duties, while prosecutor José Manuel San Baldomero renewed the call to dismiss after nearly two years of inquiry.
Accusing parties, led by Hazte Oír, upheld the charges and proposed inquiries such as Gómez's full work history, updated Álvarez salaries, and data on a meeting linked to the chair's software. Peinado will rule soon on these requests. The case, started in April 2024, probes Gómez's professional activities with businessmen and UCM, and potential public fund diversion via Álvarez.
