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7 clusters · 42 sources · 49 days · First seen · Last updated

Spain Red.es contract and Begoña Gómez investigation

Overview

Following the preliminary hearing on 6 September 2026, the legal proceedings regarding Begoña Gómez and her assistant, Cristina Álvarez, have entered a critical phase. During the hearing, the Prosecution and the defense both requested the dismissal of the case and the acquittal of the accused. Gómez’s legal team specifically opposed a trial by jury, arguing that the popular accusation presented by Hazte Oír was ineffective due to procedural defects.

In contrast, the popular accusation led by Hazte Oír has requested the opening of an oral trial, seeking prison sentences of 13 years for Gómez and six years for Álvarez. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado is tasked with deciding whether to dismiss the case or proceed to an oral trial, which would likely be held before a jury in the Madrid Provincial Court.

As of mid-September 2026, Judge Peinado has missed the deadline to issue an order to open oral proceedings, which passed on 11 September. The delay follows legal challenges from Gómez’s defense, led by attorney Jaime Campaner, who argues that the indictment failed to comply with legal requirements. The central dispute remains whether the written description of the punishable facts meets the clarity and conciseness required by the Criminal Procedure Law and the Organic Law of the Jury Tribunal.

Amidst these procedural delays, it has been announced that Judge Peinado is set to retire on 27 September at the age of 72. His tenure has been marked by legal volatility; while the Madrid Provincial Court has validated the existence of criminal material requiring clarification, Peinado’s methods have frequently led to increased appeals and the annulment of certain procedures. These frictions have allowed the government to claim they are victims of ‘lawfare’ or political persecution.

Entities

Begoña Gómez · Juan Carlos Peinado · Pedro Sánchez · Cristina Álvarez · Red.es

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. about 12 hours ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado to retire amid Begoña Gómez investigation

    Spanish Judge Juan Carlos Peinado will retire on September 27, following a controversial investigation into Begoña Gómez that has sparked intense political debate and legal challenges.

  2. 5 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Begoña Gómez trial: Judge Peinado misses deadline to open oral proceedings

    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has missed the deadline to open the oral trial for Begoña Gómez following legal challenges regarding the validity of the prosecution's indictment.

  3. 12 days ago

    [POLITICS] 19 sources
    Begoña Gómez case: Judge to decide on trial following preliminary hearing

    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado must decide whether to dismiss or proceed to trial in the investigation of Begoña Gómez and Cristina Álvarez for alleged embezzlement and influence peddling.

  4. 15 days ago

    [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Begoña Gómez summoned to preliminary hearing in Madrid

    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has summoned Begoña Gómez to a preliminary hearing in Madrid, a key step toward a potential jury trial regarding allegations of embezzlement and influence peddling.

  5. 23 days ago

    [POLITICS] 7 sources
    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado faces potential disciplinary sanctions

    Judge Juan Carlos Peinado faces potential disciplinary action regarding statements about Begoña Gómez's security, though his September retirement may lead to the case being archived.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 15 sources
    Spanish judge Juan Carlos Peinado faces disciplinary inquiry over alleged disrespect to counsel

    Spain’s top judicial council has opened a disciplinary probe into Judge Juan Carlos Peinado for allegedly disrespectful treatment of a lawyer during the Begoña Gómez case hearing.

  7. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Red.es accountant alleges direct order to erase contract data linked to businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés

    Red.es accountant Claudia C. denounced a superior’s order to delete records of a 2021 contract awarded to Juan Carlos Barrabés, a friend of the prime minister’s wife, prompting a UCO and European prosecutor’s‑​

Sources

13tv.es · 20minutos.com.mx · actualidad.rt.com · arabalears.cat · ariadna.elmundo.es · atlantico.net · deia.eus · diariodealmeria.es · diariodeleon.es · diariodesevilla.es · elcorreoweb.es · eldiario.es · eldiariodemadrid.es · elegimaldia.es · elnacional.cat · esdiario.com · europasur.es · expansion.com · granadahoy.com · huelvainformacion.es · kalikho.com · labandera.es · lacronicabadajoz.com · lacronicadebadajoz.elperiodicoextremadura.com · lanzadigital.com · laopinioncoruna.es · larazon.es · lasemainedansleboulonnais.fr · levante-emv.com · moncloa.com · noticiasdemalaga.es · noticiasdeNavarra.com · ocio.diariodemallorca.es · ocio.diarioinformacion.com · ocio.farodevigo.es · smartlinkin.com.tw · startup.mandiner.hu · teleSURtv.net · theobjective.com · todoalicante.es · web.eldia.es · ykkoslehti.fi

This summary has been updated 8 times: see revision history