Madrid, November 20, 2025
Spain’s Supreme Court convicted Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz today of leaking confidential information related to an ongoing corruption case, imposing fines, barring him from office for two years, and ordering damages to the victim. The ruling marks the first-ever criminal conviction of a sitting attorney general in modern Spanish history.
Supreme Court Conviction and Penalties
On November 20, 2025, Spain’s highest judicial body found Álvaro García Ortiz guilty under Article 417.1 of the Spanish Penal Code for disclosing secret information. This criminal conviction stems from the unauthorized leak of a confidential email concerning a tax crimes settlement proposal. The court sentenced García Ortiz to pay a fine of €240 calculated at a daily rate of €20 over 12 months, prohibited him from holding the chief prosecutor role for two years, and mandated €10,000 in damages to Alberto González Amador, the person prejudiced by the leak. In addition to financial penalties, García Ortiz is required to bear the legal costs of the trial. He must resign from office immediately upon notification of the ruling.
Background of the Leak and Parties Involved
The case originated from an email received on March 13, 2024, which was sent by González Amador’s lawyer to the Attorney General’s Office. The message outlined a proposed settlement in which González Amador purportedly admitted tax offenses. González Amador is notably the partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative regional president of Madrid and a prominent opposition figure against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s national government. The leak was first publicly reported by journalist Miguel Ángel Campos of Cadena SER on February 2, 2024.
Political Significance and Wider Context
This unprecedented judgment delivers a substantial political setback to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had stood by García Ortiz during the investigation and trial. It further exacerbates the already tense political climate between Sánchez’s left-wing administration and the conservative leadership of Madrid. The affair occurs amid parallel corruption probes targeting individuals close to Sánchez, including his immediate family members, intensifying the polarization of Spanish politics. Several analysts suggest that the case exhibits characteristics of political lawfare, given the mutual accusations between Spain’s leading parties and the limited direct evidence publicly disclosed.
García Ortiz’s Defense Position
Throughout the judicial process, García Ortiz consistently denied personal involvement in the leak and rejected allegations made against him. He emphasized his stance with the declaration, “The truth is not leaked; the truth is defended.” The defense highlighted that no concrete proof directly implicates García Ortiz or his close associates. Numerous media professionals who testified invoked journalistic privilege to protect their sources, refusing to confirm García Ortiz’s role as the leak’s originator.
Implications of the Verdict
The ramifications of this conviction are historic and immediate. It compels the removal of an incumbent attorney general from office for the first time in Spain’s contemporary democratic era, raising questions about the integrity and independence of judicial and political institutions. This case sets a precedent that may influence future conduct and accountability standards for top public officials in Spain, amid ongoing scrutiny of politically sensitive prosecutions.
The ruling and ensuing political fallout underscore the fragility and contentiousness of Spain’s current political landscape, where legal actions and political strategies remain deeply intertwined. As García Ortiz steps down, the search for a successor begins against a backdrop of heightened political rivalry and public skepticism.