The Spanish Supreme Court has taken the unprecedented step of opening oral proceedings against Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz, imposing a bond of one hundred and fifty thousand euros. This action follows allegations that García Ortiz revealed confidential information regarding Alberto González Amador, the partner of Madrid’s President Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The court has decided against suspending García Ortiz from his position, despite a request from the Asociación Profesional e Independiente de Fiscales, aimed at a temporary removal from office.

García Ortiz faces serious accusations, as the court affirmed he played a personal role in leaking details linked to an investigation for tax offences involving González Amador. The proceedings were confirmed six weeks after the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled in a two-to-one majority that there was sufficient reason for prosecution. This marks a significant moment, as it is the first time a serving Attorney General has faced trial in the Supreme Court.

The ruling highlights the role of sensitive communications that surfaced in the investigation. García Ortiz is accused of disclosing confidential content from an email sent on the second of February 2024, which related to private discussions between González Amador’s lawyer and the prosecutor. The court noted the Attorney General’s undue publicity of this information risked damaging the reputation of the institutions involved, raising concerns about the fundamental principles of legality and impartiality that govern the public prosecutor’s role.

As García Ortiz prepares to confront these allegations, the court has given him five days to arrange the bond. Meanwhile, it has requested that the case be referred to the Fiscal Inspection for further examination of the situation surrounding his potential suspension. The Supreme Court has indicated that there is currently a legal gap regarding the suspension process for an Attorney General, suggesting that further mechanisms may need to be established to address such situations in the future.