Saül Gordillo, former Catalan radio chief, faces sexual assault charges

Saül Gordillo: From Radio Director to Accused by Two Staffers

Journalist Saül Gordillo, former director of Catalunya Ràdio and digital newspaper Principal, stood trial accused of sensual assaulting two subordinates on the same night. A company party at Barcelona's Apolo venue on December 20, 2022, marks the alleged starting point according to the prosecution. What began as one complaint became two, and what started as a €9,000 fine ended, per prosecutors, with a request for two years in prison.

The case has an uncomfortable twist for certain political camps: the accused is not just anyone. He is a journalist who, according to various messages in the thread, publicly defended the legal framework against gender-based violence and the "I believe you" movement. Now, that same framework points to him, according to those very opinions.

What Peine That Night at the Apolo Venue

According to the complaint reported by El Periódico, Gordillo joined the newsroom's company party. There, he allegedly groped a young reporter through her trousers without saying a word. The employee stated she froze until she could pull away and suffered an anxiety attack. She visited a primary care center (CAP) the next day. Mossos d'Esquadra analyzed the venue's footage.

Days later, a second reporter from the same outlet filed another complaint regarding events from that same night. In this instance, sources indicate the acts occurred when Gordillo drove her home. The 50-year-old journalist denied the allegations during his first police interrogation and requested analysis of recordings to prove his innocence. He was fired trinc an internal investigation.

From €9,000 Fine to Two Years Prison: Evolution of Prosecution's Demand

The judicial trajectory reflects how the public accusation has hardened. Prosecutor Pilar Izaquerri raised her initial request of a €9,000 fine to a penalty of two years in prison, plus two years of supervised release and three years disqualification from professions involving contact with minors. The private prosecution sought four years.

Gordillo's defense maintained the acts did not constitute sensual assault. The trial concluded, but the verdict remained pending at the time this report was finalized. No final conviction can be assumed.

The "I Believe You" Movement Applied to Its Advocate

There is an uncomfortable consensus in many reactions within the thread: if Gordillo spent years defending a system that treats the complainant's word as evidence, he cannot now complain about that system being applied to him. Some say he reaped what he sowed. Formally, they have a point: the principle of enhanced victim credibility is one he helped normalize.

The other side warns of the risk of the instrument turning against anyone. An unwanted touch in a bar, without clear witnesses, could result in prison time and professional disqualification, they argue. The proportionality of the punishment remains the lingering question.

Background: The Accused's Resume and the Catalan Context

Gordillo is no stranger. Former head of Catalunya Ràdio, former communications lead in pro-independence circles, and owner of a YouTube channel, his public profile fueled the conversation. Some messages highlight his activism in the "pogre" and independence space; others focus on his background or appearance. We stick to what matters: a man with hierarchical power over the complainants, in a company party context where subordination is present.

Principal newspaper's internal investigation led to his dismissal. This fact—the company acting before justice—may be the most significant aspect: when private power reacts faster than public authority, it says something about both systems.

What Comes Next

The verdict is pending. If convicted, Gordillo faces prison, supervised release, and disqualification. If acquitted, the debate on false accusations and using incivil law as a weapon will resurface. Regardless, the Gordillo case leaves a lesson beyond the individual: the legal framework applauded when targeting opponents also targets those who applaud it. And in Spain, this remains news.

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Note: Facts derive from published reports and filed complaints. No final conviction exists as of this article's close.