PSOE appeals court dismissal of case against Ayuso's top aide

The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) has appealed the provisional dismissal of the case against Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, the chief of staff of Madrid's regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, arguing that the investigation was closed prematurely without exhausting all avenues to determine who leaked the personal data of two journalists who visited Ayuso's residence. Source: lavanguardia

The case concerns allegations that Rodríguez disclosed photographs and personal information of two journalists after they were identified during a police operation. The PSOE's appeal cites a precedent: the conviction of Spain's Attorney General, where messages were also deleted but the investigation continued. Source: lavanguardia The Socialists argue that the judge ignored testimony from three witnesses stating Rodríguez obtained the information from police sources. Source: infobae They also question the account given by Alberto González Amador, Ayuso's partner, who claimed to have shared a photo sent by a neighbor, but both parties deleted their WhatsApp conversation. Source: infobae

In response, the Comunidad de Madrid's regional government accused the PSOE of trying to distract from "corruptelas" surrounding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Miguel Ángel García Martín, regional minister, claimed the appeal was an attempt to "tarnish" the field. Source: infobae He noted that both the Data Protection Agency and the courts had already closed the matter. Source: infobae