Begoña Gómez’s passport seized, travel ban imposed amid corruption probe

A Madrid judge, Juan Carlos Peinado, ordered the seizure of Begoña Gómez’s passport and barred her from leaving Spain while a criminal case proceeds. Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, faces charges of influence‑peddling, business corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. The court also imposed bi‑weekly court appearances and applied the same restrictions to her aide, Cristina Álvarez.

Gómez handed over her passport at the Plaza de Castilla courts on 24 June, entering through a secured garage as requested by the Presidency’s security department. Her defense has appealed the passport seizure, the travel ban and the jury‑trial arrangement, with the Audiencia Provincial of Madrid scheduled to rule on the appeals on 13 July.

The measures have sparked a political controversy, with the government alleging a law‑fare campaign against the prime minister’s family, while opposition parties and the judiciary defend the judge’s precautionary actions. A disciplinary inquiry into Judge Peinado has also been opened after allegations of bias from the police.

The case continues to dominate Spain’s political and legal discourse, influencing public debate over judicial independence and the handling of high‑profile corruption investigations.