Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has called a preliminary hearing for tomorrow after the defense briefs were submitted by Begoña Gómez, wife of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and her advisor, Cristina Álvarez.
The magistrate, who has already concluded the investigation into the chair co-directed by Gómez at the Complutense University of Madrid, has called this hearing, prior to sending the case to the jury court, where more evidence can be requested.
According to the order, the judge agrees to this hearing, once the defense brief has been submitted, so that the parties can communicate the appropriateness of opening the oral trial. Gómez requested this week through her qualification brief her full acquittal for the crimes of embezzlement of public funds and influence peddling.
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The Provincial Court of Madrid endorsed this part of the investigation, so Peinado has formally concluded it to send it to the jury court, which will be responsible for its trial.
In her defense brief, her lawyer denies that Gómez took advantage of “her marital bond” with the head of the Executive to obtain a university chair, and that she gained financial benefit. He argues that she already had a professional career and that, contrary to Peinado’s thesis, she did not use the UCM to boost her career but decided to take a step back to avoid a conflict of interest in the company she worked for and that could access public contracts.
