A Spanish magistrate has ordered the inclusion of audio recordings into an ongoing judicial investigation, bringing hours of intercepted meetings involving former People’s Party (PP) secretary-general María Dolores de Cospedal into the legal record. The court’s decision, issued this Thursday, incorporates recordings of meetings between Cospedal, her then-husband Ignacio López del Hierro, and former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, alongside audio files published in 2025 by RAC1.
Evidence of Internal Operations
The judicial order focuses on recordings from 2014, a period during which the “Kitchen” operation was active. In the intercepted files, Cospedal is heard discussing the management of sensitive information involving former party treasurer Luis Bárcenas. Regarding Bárcenas’s records, Cospedal tells Villarejo that “it would be better to be able to stop it.”
The recordings also capture Cospedal’s remarks concerning Javier Gómez de Liaño, who served as Bárcenas’s lawyer at the time. Cospedal states she was “clearer than water” that the attorney needed to be “laminated.” Furthermore, in audio shared by RAC1, Cospedal appears to reference the president, claiming he informed her that they had “cleaned” the information held by Bárcenas.
The recordings detail a coordinated effort to reward Sergio Ríos, the former driver for Luis Bárcenas who acted as an informant within the operation. Cospedal and Villarejo discuss securing his appointment as a National Police officer as a reward for his cooperation.
Financial and Professional Implications
The investigation into the “Kitchen” operation involves allegations of embezzlement, specifically regarding the use of state funds to facilitate the scheme. Villarejo informed Cospedal during their meetings that Sergio Ríos was receiving 2,000 euros in monthly payments. According to the records, these funds were sourced from official reserved accounts.
The integration of these recordings into the formal proceeding marks a significant development in the judicial scrutiny of the “Kitchen” case. By linking the former secretary-general directly to discussions about the use of public funds and the professional advancement of an informant, the court is shifting the focus toward the highest levels of the party’s operational decision-making during that period.
Potential Procedural Outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Kitchen” operation?
The “Kitchen” refers to a clandestine operation involving the surveillance and management of information held by former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas, in which the party’s former secretary-general and a police commissioner were involved.
What role did Sergio Ríos play?
Sergio Ríos was the driver for Luis Bárcenas and acted as an informant, or “mole,” for the operation. He received 2,000 euros monthly from reserved funds and was later appointed as a National Police officer.
Why is the magistrate adding these recordings now?
The magistrate ordered the inclusion of the intercepted recordings and the 2025 RAC1 audio files this Thursday to ensure they are formally considered as part of the evidence in the ongoing legal proceedings.
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