Politics · Spain · 18 hrs ago
Witness called to clarify alleged threat against Spanish judge
Spain's National Court has summoned Cintia Rocho to testify on 24 November in an investigation into alleged efforts to disrupt legal cases.
Rocho, who is reportedly linked to a suspected drug-trafficking group in Badajoz, previously told Guardia Civil investigators that former judge Luis Sáenz de Tejada spoke of eliminating judge Beatriz Biedma.
Biedma is investigating David Sánchez, the brother of Spain's prime minister.
Sáenz de Tejada is under investigation over alleged criminal organisation, defamation, coercion and offences against moral integrity.
He denies contacting Rocho or intending to harm Biedma, and also denies receiving instructions from former Socialist activist Leire Díez.
The court will use Rocho's testimony to examine whether Sáenz de Tejada contacted her to act against Biedma.
The judge is also seeking information about attempts to join or challenge Biedma's case.
National Court judge Santiago Pedraz has summoned Cintia Rocho to testify on 24 November about an alleged threat against Judge Beatriz Biedma.
Rocho told Civil Guard investigators that former judge Luis Sáenz de Tejada spoke of “eliminating” Biedma and causing her physical harm.
Sáenz de Tejada denied contacting Rocho and denied intending to physically harm Biedma, though accounts differ on whether he acknowledged wanting to “eliminate” her in another sense.
Biedma requested the witness summons as part of an investigation into alleged efforts to disrupt judicial cases affecting the Socialist Party, the government and relatives of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The hearing is scheduled at the National Court, five days before Spain’s 29 November general election.
- Who
- Cintia Rocho, former judge Luis Sáenz de Tejada and Judge Beatriz Biedma.
- What
- Pedraz summoned Rocho to testify about an alleged approach to act against Biedma.
- When
- 24 November 2026, at 10:15 a.m.
- Where
- The National Court in Spain.
- Why
- Biedma requested the testimony to clarify Rocho’s account that Sáenz de Tejada spoke of eliminating her.
Cintia Rocho’s account
Luis Sáenz de Tejada’s account
Alleged contact
Cintia Rocho’s account
Rocho told Civil Guard investigators that Sáenz de Tejada spoke to her about eliminating Biedma and causing her physical harm.
Luis Sáenz de Tejada’s account
Sáenz de Tejada denied contacting Rocho, according to 20minutos.
Meaning of “eliminate
Cintia Rocho’s account
Rocho said she understood the phrase as referring to physical harm.
Luis Sáenz de Tejada’s account
Sáenz de Tejada said he meant removing Biedma from judicial cases, according to El Mundo; 20minutos reported that he denied a literal intention to eliminate her.
An entry in Leire Díez’s seized agenda referred to the “Judge from Badajoz” and “La Celsa,” a nickname for Rocho, according to El Mundo.
Former Badajoz football club president Joaquín Parra testified that there had been surveillance and activity targeting Biedma, according to El Mundo.
Sáenz de Tejada testified as a person under investigation and disputed the alleged meaning of “eliminate.
Pedraz ordered Rocho to appear as a witness after Biedma requested the testimony.
Rocho is due to testify at the National Court at 10:15 a.m.
- Witness
- Cintia Rocho
- Judge who ordered summons
- Santiago Pedraz
- Scheduled testimony
- 24 November 2026, 10:15 a.m.
- Judge at the center of allegation
- Beatriz Biedma
- Election date
- 29 November 2026
3 sources
La Audiencia Nacional cita a una mujer del clan de los Rocho para aclarar si le pidieron "eliminar" a la jueza Biedma
Pedraz cita a una mujer del clan de los Rochos para aclarar si le pidieron "eliminar" a la jueza Biedma
El juez cita a Cintia Rocho para que declare como testigo sobre el intento de "eliminar" a Beatriz Biedma
What people are saying
she was “a fucking pain in the ass and had to be eliminated
remove her from judicial cases
rational indications that Sáenz de Tejada belonged to the criminal organization under investigation