Blow to Spanish PM as attorney general found guilty in leak case

"Spain's top prosecutor has been banned from his post for two years after being found guilty of leaking confidential information about a tax case involving a businessman who is the boyfriend of a prominent rightwing politician. Alvaro Garcia Ortiz, who has served as attorney general since 2022, was also fined 7,300 (6,428), and ordered to pay 10,000 in damages to the businessman, Alberto Gonzalez Amador."

"The verdict, announced by the supreme court on Thursday, will come as a blow to Spain's socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, who had insisted on Garcia Ortiz's innocence, and who is under increasing pressure because of a series of corruption allegations facing his family and his allies. Garcia Ortiz, the first serving Spanish attorney general to face trial, had denied leaking personal information about Gonzalez Amador to journalists when the businessman was under investigation for alleged tax fraud."

"The businessman is the partner of the rightwing populist politician Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who, as Madrid's regional president, has been one of Sanchez's most outspoken critics. Ayuso, a member of the People's party (PP), had claimed that the information had been leaked to the press in an attempt to damage her reputation, while Gonzalez Amador told the court that the attorney general had completely destroyed me."

Alvaro Garcia Ortiz was banned from his post as Spain's attorney general for two years after being found guilty of leaking confidential information in a tax investigation. He was fined €7,300 and ordered to pay €10,000 in damages to businessman Alberto Gonzalez Amador. The supreme court verdict increases pressure on prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who had defended Garcia Ortiz and faces increasing scrutiny from corruption allegations affecting his family and allies. Gonzalez Amador is the partner of Madrid president Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who alleged the leak aimed to damage her reputation. Garcia Ortiz denied being the source and journalists testified they were not fed the information.

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