PSOE Paid Journalist for Sánchez's Father-in-Law Audio, Similar to Trump's Stormy Daniels Case

A witness has stated that the PSOE paid €18,000 to a journalist for audio recordings about **Pedro Sánchez**'s father-in-law, using funds intended for the 2024 European election campaign.

## Buying Audio with Electoral Money

A worker from the advertising agency **IKI Group**, hired by the **PSOE** for the 2024 European election campaign, told the Guardia Civil's Central Operational Unit (UCO) that a party Communications manager ordered her to give **18,000 euros** to journalist **Patricia López**. The payment was made through **Crónica Libre**, the journalist's outlet, and was for acquiring audio recordings implicating the father-in-law of the Prime Minister, **Pedro Sánchez**. The advertising agency confirmed that the **PSOE** hired them for this electoral campaign.

## Destination of Funds

The funds used for this payment came from the **PSOE**'s electoral campaign for the 2024 European Parliament elections. The Account Director at **IKI Group**, **Mónica Hurtado de Mendoza**, stated on July 8th to UCO agents that her company was hired for this campaign. After the European campaign, the collaboration between the agency and the party continued for other events, such as the **PSOE**'s 41st Federal Congress. The information has been sent to National High Court judge **Santiago Pedraz**, who is investigating a network related to influencing judicial and police decisions and alleged rigging in the **SEPI** (State Society of Industrial Participations).

## Content of the Audio

The audio recordings in question, previously held by retired commissioner **José Manuel Villarejo**, contained information about **Pedro Sánchez**'s father-in-law's saunas. Journalist **Patricia López**, who passed away in December 2023, used the outlet **Crónica Libre** to issue the invoice for the **18,000 euros** she received. The order to make this payment through the advertising agency came from the then Director of Communication at Ferraz (PSOE headquarters), **Ion Antolín**. The witness's statement to the UCO corroborates previous information about this payment.