{"id":84559,"date":"2026-06-20T13:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-pms-wife-ordered-to-stand-trial-for-corruption-must-hand-over-passport\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T13:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:30:57","slug":"spanish-pms-wife-ordered-to-stand-trial-for-corruption-must-hand-over-passport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-pms-wife-ordered-to-stand-trial-for-corruption-must-hand-over-passport\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish PM’s Wife Ordered to Stand Trial for Corruption, Must Hand Over Passport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

BARCELONA, Spain \u2014 A Spanish judge has ruled that Bego\u00f1a G\u00f3mez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez, must stand trial on charges of influence peddling and corruption, and must hand over her passport to authorities.<\/p>

Investigative judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued the order on Saturday, citing concerns that G\u00f3mez posed a flight risk. Beyond surrendering her passport, she is also required to check in with a court every two weeks. No trial date has been scheduled yet.<\/p>

The ruling immediately sparked a fierce political firestorm in Spain, with opposition leaders demanding that S\u00e1nchez’s Socialist government resign.<\/p>

Prosecutors allege that G\u00f3mez used her status as the prime minister’s wife to steer government contracts toward a group of technology companies. Judge Peinado also accused her of misusing public funds in connection with hiring a consultant, and of improperly using software during her time as a professor at a public university.<\/p>

G\u00f3mez has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings. S\u00e1nchez has characterized the case as a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated by conservative rivals intent on bringing down his left-wing government, which has held power since 2018.<\/p>

Judge Peinado ruled that a businessman who allegedly benefited from the government contracts, as well as the consultant who worked with G\u00f3mez, will also face trial.<\/p>

S\u00e1nchez, who has been a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, is navigating legal challenges on several fronts as Spain heads toward a general election expected by next year.<\/p>

Earlier this week, former Socialist Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Luis Rodr\u00edguez Zapatero appeared before a separate judge regarding his alleged involvement in a government airline bailout and to address the discovery of expensive jewelry found during a police search of his office. He has denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>

Government officials were quick to denounce Saturday’s ruling as politically driven. The Socialist Party released a sharp statement calling the decision “an absolute scandal for democracy.”<\/p>

“Bego\u00f1a G\u00f3mez is innocent,” the party declared. “For two years now, she has been the target of a political and judicial witch hunt. Today’s development is just the latest escalation.”<\/p>

Spain’s conservative opposition took the opposite stance, pushing for the government to call an early election. Miguel Tellado, secretary-general of the main opposition People’s Party, offered a pointed rebuke.<\/p>

“Lawmakers and the architects of our constitution could never have imagined that the threats to our democracy could originate from the Spanish government itself,” Tellado said. “Now we see how the government attacks judges, prosecutors and the media while attempting to silence opposition parties. This is unthinkable in any modern democracy.”<\/p>

The investigation into G\u00f3mez, which has been ongoing for two years, was set in motion after accusations were brought by the pressure group Manos Limpias \u2014 meaning Clean Hands \u2014 an organization that has pursued numerous legal cases, many of them tied to conservative causes.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Spanish judge has ruled that the wife of Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez must face trial on corruption and influence peddling charges. Investigative judge Juan Carlos Peinado also ordered Bego\u00f1a G\u00f3mez to surrender her passport, citing concerns she could flee the country. The ruling has ignited a fierce political battle, with opposition leaders calling on S\u00e1nchez’s government to step down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":84558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781976657467.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-lZR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":84494,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spains-first-lady-ordered-to-stand-trial-on-corruption-charges\/","url_meta":{"origin":84559,"position":0},"title":"Spain’s First Lady Ordered to Stand Trial on Corruption Charges","author":"Admin","date":"June 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Spanish judge has ruled that the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must face trial on corruption charges, while also prohibiting her from leaving the country. Bego\u00f1a Gomez is accused of using her status as the prime minister's spouse to influence the awarding of work contracts, allegations she firmly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781961354375.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55809,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-prosecutor-seeks-to-drop-corruption-case-against-pms-wife\/","url_meta":{"origin":84559,"position":1},"title":"Spanish Prosecutor Seeks to Drop Corruption Case Against PM’s Wife","author":"Admin","date":"April 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Spanish prosecutor has requested that a judge dismiss corruption charges against the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The case, brought by far-right groups seeking up to 24 years in prison, represents the most significant legal threat to the Socialist leader's family.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776871483421.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":73661,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/multiple-corruption-cases-target-spains-socialist-party-leadership\/","url_meta":{"origin":84559,"position":2},"title":"Multiple Corruption Cases Target Spain’s Socialist Party Leadership","author":"Admin","date":"May 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Spain's governing Socialist Workers' Party confronts numerous legal investigations involving corruption, influence-peddling, and other criminal allegations. The cases implicate over a dozen individuals, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife and brother, though Sanchez himself has not been charged.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1780050256379.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":82856,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spains-ex-prime-minister-zapatero-questioned-in-corruption-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":84559,"position":3},"title":"Spain’s Ex-Prime Minister Zapatero Questioned in Corruption Investigation","author":"Admin","date":"June 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former Spanish Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Luis Rodr\u00edguez Zapatero appeared before a judge in Madrid on Wednesday as part of a corruption probe. The investigation centers on his alleged involvement in a government bailout of an airline and jewelry found during a police search of his office. Zapatero denies any wrongdoing.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781688745974.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781688745974.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781688745974.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781688745974.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72525,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spanish-authorities-raid-socialist-party-offices-in-corruption-probe\/","url_meta":{"origin":84559,"position":4},"title":"Spanish Authorities Raid Socialist Party Offices in Corruption Probe","author":"Admin","date":"May 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Law enforcement officials conducted a search of Spain's ruling Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid as part of an investigation into alleged financial misconduct. 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