Spanish Judge Orders Further Investigation into PM Sánchez’s Wife, Begoña Gómez
Madrid – A Spanish judge is intensifying an investigation into Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, focusing on potential embezzlement and the use of official resources for private purposes. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has issued a new series of requests for information, seeking to determine whether travel and communication activities were conducted on behalf of the government or for personal reasons.
In a court order dated February 6th, Judge Peinado has directed the National Passenger Information Office (ONIP), a department within the Ministry of the Interior, to provide a complete record of all flights taken by both Begoña Gómez and her assistant at the Prime Minister’s office since July 2018. The judge specifically requests details of travel to destinations including the Dominican Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and the Russian Federation, seeking clarification on whether these trips were official or private in nature.
The judge is also revisiting a previous request for access to all emails sent from an official address used by Gómez within the Prime Minister’s office. This request was previously challenged by the Provincial Court, which criticized the initial lack of justification for the measure. Judge Peinado now argues that accessing these emails is “necessary and appropriate,” and maintains that it represents a less intrusive method of investigation than searching Gómez’s private residence.
Peinado asserts that he is compelled to pursue alternative investigative avenues due to what he describes as a lack of cooperation from Gómez. He cites her repeated exercise of the right to remain silent during questioning, as well as Prime Minister Sánchez’s invocation of a legal provision allowing family members of those under investigation to avoid testifying.
The renewed investigation comes amidst a backdrop of political tension in Spain, with Sánchez facing ongoing scrutiny over allegations of corruption involving his family and allies. In November 2025, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Sánchez of enabling corruption, prompting a pointed response from the Prime Minister.
This case also follows a previous investigation initiated in April 2024, where a judge agreed to open an investigation into allegations of influence peddling and corruption against Gómez, prompting Sánchez to consider resigning. At that time, the opposition accused Sánchez of attempting to intimidate the judiciary and the press.
Separately, two judges, Eloy Velasco and Manuel Ruiz de Lara, are facing potential disciplinary action for publicly criticizing politicians, including Pedro Sánchez and Begoña Gómez. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated after the judges made critical remarks about the Prime Minister’s wife and other political figures. This development highlights a broader debate regarding the boundaries of acceptable conduct for members of the Spanish judiciary.
In September 2025, a judge ordered an embezzlement trial for Begoña Gómez, further escalating the legal challenges facing the Prime Minister’s family. The ongoing legal battles and investigations continue to cast a shadow over Sánchez’s government and raise questions about its stability.
