Politics · Spain · 9 hrs ago
Koldo García’s lawyer steps down from his defense
Leticia de la Hoz has stepped down as Koldo García’s lawyer, telling Spain’s National Court that confidential professional reasons led her to resign.
García is a former adviser to José Luis Ábalos, a former transport minister, and De la Hoz represented him in several corruption investigations.
She is also under investigation in a separate case, where businesswoman Carmen Pano accused her of offering a bribe; De la Hoz has denied the accusation.
The resignation follows attention around payments for García’s legal defense, including €242,000 paid by the publisher of Okdiario, according to invoices De la Hoz submitted to the court.
García has also claimed that a lawyer for the opposition People’s Party offered to pay his defense costs and give him €1 million for information against the government; that lawyer denies the claim.
People close to De la Hoz say she wants to focus on her own defense, while she cited only professional reasons in her court filing.
García is being asked to choose a new lawyer so his right to legal representation is protected.
Leticia de la Hoz has resigned as Koldo García’s lawyer, notifying Spain’s National Court of her decision.
She cited professional reasons but said the details were protected by professional secrecy.
Sources say she is under investigation in a separate case and that people close to her linked her decision to the need to focus on her own defense.
Her resignation follows reports about payments for García’s legal defense and his allegation that the PP offered him money to provide information against the government.
García must be asked to appoint a new lawyer of his choice, according to De la Hoz’s filing.
- Who
- Lawyer Leticia de la Hoz resigned from representing Koldo García, a former aide to José Luis Ábalos.
- What
- She told the National Court she would no longer defend García, citing professional reasons.
- When
- 10 November 2026.
- Where
- The resignation was communicated to Spain’s National Court.
- Why
- De la Hoz cited professional reasons protected by professional secrecy. People close to her said she wanted to focus on her own defense.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
De la Hoz assumed García’s defense and represented him in the Supreme Court trial over the face masks case.
One of the invoices for García’s legal costs was issued to Dos Mil Palabras, the publisher of Okdiario, according to El País.
A second invoice for García’s legal costs was issued to Dos Mil Palabras, according to El País.
De la Hoz notified the National Court that she was resigning from García’s defense.
- Lawyer
- Leticia de la Hoz
- Client
- Koldo García
- Court notified
- Spain’s National Court
- Resignation date
- 10 November 2026
- Legal fees reported
- €242,000 including VAT paid by Dos Mil Palabras, according to El País
3 sources
What people are saying
For professional reasons, the content of which is protected by professional secrecy, I resign from continuing to defend Koldo García Izaguirre in this case.
pay my defense and the amount of one million euros in exchange