Begoña Gómez delivered her passport to Judge Juan Carlos Peinado on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, following a judicial order [1].
The move places the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez under strict legal constraints during an active investigation into high-level corruption. This surrender is a precautionary measure designed to prevent the suspect from leaving the country while the court examines allegations of financial and political misconduct.
Gómez appeared at the Juzgados de Plaza de Castilla in Madrid, specifically at court 41 [2]. The delivery follows a ruling by Judge Peinado, who imposed a prohibition on Gómez leaving Spain [1].
The judicial measures stem from accusations including influence peddling, embezzlement, misappropriation, and corruption in business [1]. These charges are directed at both Gómez and her advisor, Cristina Álvarez [1]. The surrender of the travel document serves as a guarantee that the accused remains available for the duration of the legal proceedings.
During the process, María Jesús del Barco, the presiding judge of Madrid, said there was a "posible riesgo para la integridad física de Begoña Gómez" — a possible risk to the physical integrity of Begoña Gómez [1]. This statement suggests that security concerns may be coinciding with the legal requirements of the case.
Judge Peinado said he "ha impuesto la prohibición de salir de España" — has imposed the prohibition of leaving Spain [1]. The court's decision to mandate the physical surrender of the passport on June 24, 2026 [1], ensures that the travel ban is enforceable by the state.
The proceedings continue to focus on the alleged use of professional positions to secure illicit advantages. The court has not yet issued a final verdict on the charges of embezzlement or corruption, but the imposition of precautionary measures indicates the judge views the risk of flight or interference as sufficient to warrant the restriction of movement.
“Begoña Gómez delivered her passport to Judge Juan Carlos Peinado on Wednesday, June 24, 2026”
The surrender of a passport is a significant legal escalation in the Spanish judicial system, signaling that the court considers the risk of flight high enough to justify restricting a citizen's fundamental right to travel. Because the suspect is the spouse of the sitting Prime Minister, the case creates a precarious intersection of judicial independence and executive stability, potentially intensifying political pressure on the Sánchez administration.
