Pedraz sets testimony in alleged plot against Biedma

Audiencia Nacional judge Santiago Pedraz issued an order on Friday calling a Badajoz witness to court on 24 November. Her evidence concerns an alleged plan to harm judge Beatriz Biedma.

The hearing is set for 10.15 am. It falls five days before the 29 November general election. Biedma had asked Pedraz to hear the witness.

What the witness told police

The witness had already spoken to the Guardia Civil's UCO unit. She said former judge Luis Sáenz de Tejada told her that Biedma had to be “eliminated”. She said she took this to mean physical harm.

The UCO said the account pointed towards physical action against the judge. Its report made clear that this was the unit's reading, not a direct quote from the witness. She told officers that she rejected any role in such a plan.

Sáenz de Tejada denies contacting her. He has also said any reference to removing Biedma meant a court process, not physical harm. Reports differ on whether he recalled using the word “eliminate”.

A disputed online contact

The witness said a Facebook account under the name José García Fernández contacted her on 17 December 2024. She never learnt who ran it. Pedraz has asked National Police in Badajoz for a report on the account holder.

Pedraz is also seeking papers on attempts by Sáenz de Tejada to join the David Sánchez case or seek Biedma's removal from it. The judge is also reviewing videos from Sáenz de Tejada's YouTube channel.

Sáenz de Tejada remains under investigation in the wider case. The claims against him have not been proved in court.

The wider court case

Biedma led the inquiry into David Sánchez, the prime minister's brother. He was later convicted and barred from public office for nine years. Biedma has told the court that she and her daughters were watched while she ran that inquiry.

Pedraz's wider case concerns an alleged effort to disrupt court cases linked to the PSOE, the government and relatives of a private person. Investigators say Santos Cerdán may have led it and Leire Díez may have coordinated it. Those claims remain under investigation.

Sources: Europa Press; elDiario.es; ABC; El Español.