Sofía Puente scrutinized over Venezuelan nationality case

A report from the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) has brought scrutiny to Sofía Puente, the former Director General of Legal Security and Public Faith, regarding the nationality application of Venezuelan former Vice Minister Nervis Villalobos.

Investigations led by Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional are examining a suspected criminal network involving former socialist activist Leire Díez. The probe suggests Díez may have attempted to use her contacts to influence the resolution of Villalobos’s Spanish nationality file and access sensitive information.

While some media reports suggested that Puente’s interest in the file implied support for the nationality, UCO documents indicate that after inquiring about the status of the case in July 2020, Puente explicitly ordered that the nationality be denied following police reports on the applicant's background. The investigation continues to examine the connections between these administrative actions and the alleged network intended to influence sensitive judicial cases.