Spanish judge Peinado sues SER and El Plural for €450,000 over home data
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado is seeking €450,000 from SER and El Plural over the disclosure of details about his second home, in a case linked to the investigation into Begoña Gómez.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Judge Peinado demands €450,000 from SER and El Plural over his second home data
How much is an investigating judge's privacy worth? Juan Carlos Peinado, the magistrate investigating Begoña Gómez, has filed a €450,000 lawsuit against Cadena SER, the newspaper El Plural and former Socialist councillor Fernando Jabonero. The reason: the disclosure of detailed information about his second home, which he considers an illegitimate intrusion into his private life.
The news, first reported by Libertad Digital on 5 May 2026, places the lawsuit in the middle of the case affecting the vvife of Spain's Prime Minister. Peinado argues that the publication of his home address — information no public interest can justify — abusa his right to privacy, protected by Spain's Organic Law on Data Protection.
The debate, predictably polarised, has seen accusations fly: while some consider the figure exorbitant, or argue the cost will fall on taxpayers through institutional advertising, others see it as insufficient punishment for what they call media harassment. The judge, who has already been the target of attacks over his investigative work, is now deciding to fight back in court.
With this lawsuit, Peinado is not only seeking financial compensation but also trying to send a message to the media: judges' privacy is not fair ground for public pillorying. It remains to be seen whether SER and El Plural opt for a settlement or take the fight to the courts. In any case, the price of privacy now has a label: €450,000. Someone will end up paying.
How much is an investigating judge's privacy worth? Juan Carlos Peinado, the magistrate investigating Begoña Gómez, has filed a €450,000 lawsuit against Cadena SER, the newspaper El Plural and former Socialist councillor Fernando Jabonero. The reason: the disclosure of detailed information about his second home, which he considers an illegitimate intrusion into his private life.
The news, first reported by Libertad Digital on 5 May 2026, places the lawsuit in the middle of the case affecting the vvife of Spain's Prime Minister. Peinado argues that the publication of his home address — information no public interest can justify — abusa his right to privacy, protected by Spain's Organic Law on Data Protection.
The debate, predictably polarised, has seen accusations fly: while some consider the figure exorbitant, or argue the cost will fall on taxpayers through institutional advertising, others see it as insufficient punishment for what they call media harassment. The judge, who has already been the target of attacks over his investigative work, is now deciding to fight back in court.
With this lawsuit, Peinado is not only seeking financial compensation but also trying to send a message to the media: judges' privacy is not fair ground for public pillorying. It remains to be seen whether SER and El Plural opt for a settlement or take the fight to the courts. In any case, the price of privacy now has a label: €450,000. Someone will end up paying.
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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 (12 replies).
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