The controversial judge Peinado leaves Begoña Gómez one order away from the dock with a request for 13 years in prison on the table

The controversial judge Juan Carlos Peinado now has on the table the two positions that will mark the outcome of his investigation against Begoña Gómez. The popular accusations led by the ultracatholic association Hazte Oír demand 13 years in prison for Pedro Sánchez's wife, while her defense and the Prosecutor's Office agree on requesting that the case end without trial.

The preliminary hearing held this Tuesday constitutes the last step before Peinado decides whether to open an oral trial before a jury court. The hearing began around 7:45 p.m., almost two hours later than scheduled, and lasted barely half an hour. The magistrate must now rule by means of an order.

Lawyer Jaime Campaner, who recently took over Gómez's defense, has requested her free acquittal and has argued that the investigated facts lack criminal content. The Prosecutor's Office has maintained the same position and considers that the investigation has not gathered sufficient evidence to bring the president's wife before a jury.

On the other hand, the ultras of Hazte Oír have ratified their indictment and have requested 13 years in prison for Gómez and six for Cristina Álvarez, her advisor in Moncloa. Gómez remains under investigation for alleged crimes of influence peddling and embezzlement, while Álvarez faces the accusation related to the alleged use of public resources in the activities carried out by the president's wife at the Complutense University.

Although Peinado had initially summoned both "personally", neither has appeared in the Plaza de Castilla courts because their presence was not mandatory. Gómez has delegated her representation to Campaner and Álvarez, who is traveling abroad, has been represented by lawyer José María de Pablo.

The prison request drops from 24 to 13 years after the Audiencia's correction

The popular accusations came to request 24 years in prison for Begoña Gómez when the case also included the alleged crimes of corruption in business and misappropriation. The Provincial Court of Madrid partially upheld the defense's appeal in July, dismissed those two accusations and considerably reduced the scope of the investigation promoted by Peinado.

The court kept open the jury trial for influence peddling and embezzlement, but forced the judge to repeat the preliminary hearing, adapting it to the crimes that remained in the case. The High Court also separated businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés from this procedure, whose investigation will continue through the channels of the abbreviated procedure.

Campaner maintains that Gómez did not exert any pressure to obtain the Complutense professorship and that she also did not appropriate the computer program developed in that area. Cristina Álvarez's defense also assures that her actions as an advisor followed the instructions received and that the facts attributed by the court do not constitute embezzlement.

Hazte Oír has also ruled out requesting again the withdrawal of the passport and the prohibition of leaving Spain for Gómez. The Provincial Court annulled these restrictions in July, initially accepted by Peinado, considering them disproportionate and that there was no real and effective risk of flight.

A last-minute flight due to Peinado's haste

The hearing has culminated in a new clash between the magistrate and the defenses. Peinado notified the summons on Monday and cited the parties for this Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Campaner requested the postponement because he had a professional commitment in Barcelona and explained that a substitute lawyer could hardly study in time an investigation accumulated over more than two years.

As 'ElConstitucional.es' published this Tuesday, the magistrate initially refused to change the date and suggested that Gómez be assisted by another lawyer. Álvarez's defense also requested the postponement because her client is traveling and will not return until September 28.

The scenario changed when Campaner learned that his appointment in Barcelona had been suspended. The lawyer took the first available flight to Madrid and asked to delay the start by at least 45 minutes. Peinado accepted that modification just ten minutes before the scheduled time, although the hearing ended up starting much later.

The judge had justified his haste due to the vacation period that will begin this Wednesday and will extend until September 18. Peinado will reach the mandatory retirement age next day 27, with just enough time to issue the resolution that will decide if Begoña Gómez and Cristina Álvarez end up sitting before a popular jury.