Judge examines 10,842 messages between Leire Díez and Sánchez's former chief of staff
Judge Pedraz is investigating 10,842 messages between Leire Díez and Juanma Serrano, former chief of staff to Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez, in the SEPI affair.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Judge Pedraz authorises analysis of the 10,842 messages between 'la pequeña Nicolasa' and Sánchez's former chief of staff
Santiago Pedraz, a judge at Spain's Audiencia Nacional (national incivil court), has given the green light to examine the contents of Juanma Serrano's mobile phone, former chief of staff to Pedro Sánchez. The court order, first reported by Libertad Digital, reveals that Serrano exchanged 10,842 messages with the Socialist fixer Leire Díez, alias 'la pequeña Nicolasa'. Of these, 9,355 were sent via WhatsApp and another 1,487 via Signal, an encrypted messaging app that, ironically, failed to protect the interlocutors from automatic deletion.
A volume of communications that raises serious suspicions
The figure is striking even for an intense professional relationship: more than 10,000 messages over a period investigators are trying to pin down. Judge Pedraz, who is leading the SEPI case into alleged dirty-tricks operations within the PSOE (Spain's ruling Socialist party), is seeking to determine whether those conversations conceal influence peddling or acts of corruption. The decision to analyse Serrano's device comes after the affair came to light through investigations into public procurement at the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI, a state-owned industrial holding company).
The political backdrop to an uncomfortable investigation
Although the judicial focus is on possible corruption offences, the case has obvious political ramifications. Serrano was one of Sánchez's most trusted aides, and Díez is a figure linked to the Socialist apparatus. The revelation of the volume of messages has fuelled speculation about the nature of their relationship, but the judge is simply looking for evidence of illegal activity. Sánchez, for his part, has voiced his support for Serrano, even as the investigation moves forward.
The analysis of the messages could be key to shedding light on the SEPI affair. For now, the case remains open and attention is fixed on the contents of those chats, which those involved failed to take the precaution of deleting.
Santiago Pedraz, a judge at Spain's Audiencia Nacional (national incivil court), has given the green light to examine the contents of Juanma Serrano's mobile phone, former chief of staff to Pedro Sánchez. The court order, first reported by Libertad Digital, reveals that Serrano exchanged 10,842 messages with the Socialist fixer Leire Díez, alias 'la pequeña Nicolasa'. Of these, 9,355 were sent via WhatsApp and another 1,487 via Signal, an encrypted messaging app that, ironically, failed to protect the interlocutors from automatic deletion.
A volume of communications that raises serious suspicions
The figure is striking even for an intense professional relationship: more than 10,000 messages over a period investigators are trying to pin down. Judge Pedraz, who is leading the SEPI case into alleged dirty-tricks operations within the PSOE (Spain's ruling Socialist party), is seeking to determine whether those conversations conceal influence peddling or acts of corruption. The decision to analyse Serrano's device comes after the affair came to light through investigations into public procurement at the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI, a state-owned industrial holding company).
The political backdrop to an uncomfortable investigation
Although the judicial focus is on possible corruption offences, the case has obvious political ramifications. Serrano was one of Sánchez's most trusted aides, and Díez is a figure linked to the Socialist apparatus. The revelation of the volume of messages has fuelled speculation about the nature of their relationship, but the judge is simply looking for evidence of illegal activity. Sánchez, for his part, has voiced his support for Serrano, even as the investigation moves forward.
The analysis of the messages could be key to shedding light on the SEPI affair. For now, the case remains open and attention is fixed on the contents of those chats, which those involved failed to take the precaution of deleting.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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