Judge Piña Reopens Scrutiny of Cospedal-Villarejo Ties
Judge Antonio Piña has ordered the police’s Internal Affairs unit to draft a fresh report on communications between former PP Secretary General María Dolores de Cospedal, her husband Ignacio López del Hierro, and commissioner José Manuel Villarejo. The court order also mandates that the radio station RAC1 surrender recordings previously excluded from the trial, a move that could expose whether the “Kitchen” operation was designed to shield Partido Popular leadership from the “caja B” corruption scandal.
Unlocking the ‘Piece 34’ Archive
The Audiencia Nacional is shifting its approach to “Piece 34,” a collection of recordings and documents salvaged from Villarejo’s seized materials. For two years, this evidence remained largely inaccessible. Now, Internal Affairs must identify any evidence of criminal activity within these files—including bank transfers, emails, or conversations—that implicates Cospedal or López del Hierro. Court filings suggest the investigation centers on whether the “Kitchen” operation, described by prosecutors as a scheme to “boycott” the inquiry into the PP’s illegal slush fund, was coordinated through direct channels between the party’s top brass and the commissioner.
The Recordings Behind the Allegations
Despite the gravity of the claims, previous attempts to name Cospedal and Mariano Rajoy as defendants were rejected. While the PSOE has long argued the recordings prove direct involvement, the court and the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office previously maintained the materials did not warrant formal charges. Recordings published in March 2025 show Villarejo discussing sensitive documents with Cospedal in her office at PP headquarters. In one instance, Cospedal asks if the National Intelligence Center or Villarejo’s team had recovered specific incriminating materials. When Villarejo confirms it was his team, Cospedal references efforts to “clean” the files held by Luis Bárcenas.
Tracing Payments and Political Backing
Internal Affairs will now focus on payments allegedly made to Villarejo. The commissioner’s private agendas, cross-referenced during the trial, contain specific entries detailing meetings and promised payments. One entry from December 6, 2012, notes: “Cospe: Support to the max in everything. Sends me José L. Orti with 100 and promises 50 more on Monday.” José Luis Ortiz, then-chief of staff to Cospedal, was previously investigated in the Kitchen case, though the proceedings against him were eventually archived.
A Potential New Legal Front
The findings of this new report could trigger a separate legal proceeding. If Internal Affairs uncovers credible evidence of criminal conduct and the presiding judge concurs, it would initiate a new case independent of the ongoing Kitchen trial. The primary trial is scheduled to end on July 30. Yet, the inclusion of these recordings ensures the controversy regarding the destruction of evidence and the protection of PP officials remains active. The court’s insistence on a thorough review of the “Piece 34” materials highlights lingering questions about the extent of collaboration between the party’s leadership and the police officers tasked with the clandestine operation.