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A Spanish judge is under investigation after a video surfaced on Wednesday showing him aggressively interrogating a woman who had accused a prominent former lawmaker of sexual assault. The footage, which has sparked widespread outrage, has prompted authorities to review the judge’s conduct in the case.
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) announced on Wednesday that it had launched an internal investigation into the judge following more than 900 complaints filed against him.
The move comes after a video surfaced showing the judge aggressively questioning a woman who had accused a former lawmaker of sexual assault.
Judge Adolfo Carretero has faced heavy criticism after a video surfaced on Monday showing his aggressive questioning of actress and television presenter Elisa Mouliaa. The video, which was part of his investigation into sexual assault allegations, quickly leaked to multiple Spanish media outlets, sparking public outrage.
During the January 16 hearing, Judge Adolfo Carretero repeatedly questioned the 36-year-old Elisa Mouliaa about her motives and her attitude towards Íñigo Errejón, the former lawmaker from the far-left Sumar party whom she has accused of sexual assault in September 2021. The judge’s aggressive line of questioning has drawn significant criticism.
“Could it be that you wanted something from this man and, when he didn’t give it to you, you decided to lodge a complaint against him now?” the judge asked her.
At another moment he asked her: “You’re a woman used to interacting with the public. How could you not have been able to tell him that this situation was not acceptable?”
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This line of questioning was strongly criticised by several members of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s two-party coalition government that includes Sumar.
Education Minister Pilar Alegria on Tuesday said that she “felt hurt as a woman” watching the video excerpts of the court hearing, adding that she “had the impression this is a feeling” many other women in Spain have felt.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said judges need to “know how to approach and deal with this type of hearing”.
Errejon stepped down in October as lawmaker and Sumar’s spokesman in parliament, and said he was quiting politics, in a cryptic statement in which he referred to “mistakes”, without clarifying what those were.
Shortly afterwards, Mouliaa announced on X that she had lodged a complaint with police against Errejon, 41, for sexual assault.
The scandal embarrassed Sanchez’s government, which has prioritised gender equality and the fight against sexual violence.