Prosecutors rebuke Judge Peinado for rushing preliminary hearing in Begoña Gómez case

In the corruption trial of Begoña Gómez, the spouse of the government leader, and her La Moncloa aide Cristina Álvarez, the Fiscalía Provincial de Madrid expressed disapproval of Judge Juan Carlos Peinado’s decision to set a preliminary hearing on short notice. While the prosecutor’s office had initially concluded that no criminal acts were evident, it rejected the defence’s argument that Álvarez suffered a denial of justice because she could not be physically present.

The office described the judge’s swift scheduling as atypical and insensitive to the professionals involved, stating that the accused’s presence was not essential for the proceeding. The criticism is directed at Peinado, who is slated to retire this weekend. Despite the procedural concerns, the prosecutor affirmed that the case will proceed, with both Gómez and Álvarez facing charges of influence trafficking and embezzlement before a jury.