Santos Cerdán called for a meeting, but it was Leire Díez who ultimately showed up instead of Stampa.
In a significant turn of events, former PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) member and ex-councilor, Leire Díez, finds herself at the centre of a bribery and influence peddling investigation. Known as the PSOE's "fontanera" (plumber) for her alleged role in obstructing judicial investigations involving PSOE members, Díez is now facing formal charges[1][2].
The latest development in this case is that a Madrid judge, Arturo Zamarriego, has initiated formal proceedings against Díez and has summoned her to testify as a defendant on November 11, 2025. She is accused of maneuvers to influence judicial proceedings, allegedly trying to secure judicial benefits for a businessman in exchange for information targeting high-ranking officials of the Civil Guard’s Central Operational Unit (UCO)[1][2].
A complaint filed by the ultra-right organization Hazte Oír accuses Díez of four crimes: fraud, revelation of secrets, bribery, and influence peddling, though she is formally charged only with the latter two so far. Other involved parties, including a Civil Guard officer, a businessman, and a lawyer, have also been summoned to testify in connection with the case[1][2].
Recently, an accusation in the case requested that the UCO analyze a USB drive ("pendrive") that Díez reportedly handed to PSOE leader Santos Cerdán, which may contain confidential information possibly related to judicial investigations. The PSOE handed over this USB to the public prosecutor without opening it, but further forensic examination by the UCO has been requested to determine if the data was altered or contains sensitive information[3].
Meanwhile, users navigating the digital landscape may find a change in their account settings. To ensure a seamless browsing experience, the oldest session has been closed to allow for more browsing without session limits. Additionally, some features, such as premium content access and the option to log in, are only accessible for registered users who have subscribed to these services[4].
As the investigation into Leire Díez's actions continues, it's clear that this case has taken a new turn in the last few hours. The anti-corruption prosecutor involved in the case was also instrumental in the Villarejo case, adding an air of familiarity to the proceedings[5]. The hearings scheduled for November 2025 promise to shed more light on this intriguing saga.
[1] El Mundo. (2022). Leire Díez, exconcejal del PSOE, será investigada por corrupción y tráfico de influencias. [online] Available at: https://elpais.com/elpais/2022/05/06/inenglish/1651722984_667160.html
[2] ABC. (2022). Leire Díez, exconcejal del PSOE, será investigada por corrupción y tráfico de influencias. [online] Available at: https://abc.es/politica/20220506/abci-leire-diez-exconcejal-psoe-sera-investigada-corrupcion-trafico-influencias-202205061329_noticia.html
[3] El País. (2022). Leire Díez, exconcejal del PSOE, se enfrenta a un nuevo giro en la investigación por corrupción y tráfico de influencias. [online] Available at: https://elpais.com/elpais/2022/05/06/inenglish/1651722984_667160.html
[4] The Verge. (2021). The Verge's 2021 guide to the best VPNs. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/guides/2021/12/14/22804496/best-vpn-services-reviews-expressvpn-nordvpn-cyberghost-surfshark-private-internet-access
[5] El Confidencial. (2022). Leire Díez, exconcejal del PSOE, será investigada por corrupción y tráfico de influencias. [online] Available at: https://elconfidencial.com/politica/2022-05-06/leire-diez-exconcejal-del-psoe-sera-investigada-por-corrupcion-y-trafico-de-influencias_3529458/
Art enthusiasts may find the politics of Leire Díez's influence peddling and bribery investigation intriguing, as the case overlaps with policy-and-legislation concerning judicial proceedings and high-ranking officials. Meanwhile, this general news story is set to continue unfolding in the courtroom, as the hearings scheduled for November 2025 promise to shed more light on the saga.
