Guardia Civil Director Admits to Meetings with Leire Díez Amid Ongoing Investigation

Mercedes González, the Director General of the Guardia Civil, has officially acknowledged holding multiple meetings with Leire Díez, a former PSOE militant currently under investigation for her alleged role in a scheme to discredit judicial proceedings against the party. The admission follows mounting scrutiny regarding potential influence and information leaks within the force.

Details of the Meetings

In a statement released this Thursday, González clarified the nature of her interactions with Díez. She noted that their initial contact occurred during her tenure as the Government Delegate in Madrid, when Díez served as the Director of Institutional Relations for Correos. According to González, that interaction was not face-to-face and focused exclusively on labor mobilizations within the postal service.

González admitted that, after assuming her role as Director General of the Guardia Civil, she held in-person meetings with Díez. During the final encounter, Díez reportedly raised the case of Commander Rubén Villalba, who was detained early in the ‘Koldo case’. According to accounts from the Guardia Civil, Díez inquired about the possibility of Villalba returning to his post. González stated that she rejected this request immediately, citing the commander’s lack of assignment due to his alleged involvement in the judicial case.

Internal Investigation and Official Stance

The Unidad Central Operativa (UCO) of the Guardia Civil has identified three meetings between González and Díez within the case summary. Investigators are currently examining whether these interactions, alongside various telephone communications, prompted internal reserved investigations regarding the source of information leaks to the media. In an audio recording included in the case file, Díez refers to González as a person of her “confidence.”

Despite these findings, González maintains that she has “never” participated in any operation against any unit of the Guardia Civil, nor has she “interfered in any investigation.” She further stated that upon learning of Díez’s alleged involvement in actions targeting Guardia Civil agents, she convened with key leaders of the Judicial Police, the UCO and the affected agent to offer her support.

The Guardia Civil’s official communication noted that the first meeting was understood by the Director as a professional overture, given Díez’s assertion that she was working as a freelance consultant. The statement added that any subsequent meetings would have shared a similar character, and content.

Political Repercussions

The situation has triggered a significant political response. Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska has defended González, asserting her “exemplarity and honesty” and stating that he would not have tolerated any interference in the force’s work. This defense marks a shift, as the minister had previously maintained that such meetings did not exist.

The Partido Popular (PP) has called for the resignation of both González and the Minister of the Interior, with party representatives arguing that the government has failed to provide sufficient explanations regarding the nature of these contacts and the subsequent internal investigations.

As of now, neither the Prosecutor’s Office nor the judge presiding over the case at the Audiencia Nacional, Santiago Pedraz, have attributed any criminal activity to Mercedes González. The investigation into the broader scheme remains ongoing.

Key Takeaways

• Acknowledgment: Mercedes González confirmed meeting with Leire Díez, who is under investigation for a scheme to discredit judicial causes.
• Specific Request: González stated that Díez attempted to intervene on behalf of Commander Rubén Villalba, a request she claims to have rejected.
• Ongoing Scrutiny: The UCO is investigating whether these meetings are linked to internal leaks within the Guardia Civil.
• Political Tension: The opposition has demanded the resignation of key government officials, while the Minister of the Interior has publicly defended the Director’s conduct.