WASHINGTON/MADRID, May 20 (Reuters) – The United States’ Department of Homeland Security assisted Spanish police in a money-laundering probe that led to an investigation by Spain’s High Court of former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a DHS spokesperson said.
The Spanish court said on Tuesday that Zapatero was being investigated for allegedly leading an influence-peddling and money-laundering network, in another blow to the leftist government beset by corruption scandals.
It said the network profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties – mainly Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which was bailed out by the state in 2021.
Zapatero, a key ally of current Prime Minister and fellow Socialist Pedro Sanchez and who led Spain from 2004 to 2011, denied any wrongdoing on Tuesday.
The DHS spokesperson said the Madrid office of Homeland Security Investigations “assisted the Spanish National Police in an investigation into the laundering of international public funds” that led to the proceedings against Zapatero.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of the criminal investigation at this time, HSI remains committed to working with its international partners to fight global crime, protect our communities, and uphold the rule of law,” the spokesperson said, referring to Homeland Security Investigations’ acronym.
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In its writ, the High Court said the HSI extracted information from a mobile device of Rodolfo Reyes, who is tied to Plus Ultra and also being investigated, and handed that information to Spanish police.
Zapatero is still active in politics, most recently appearing at rallies in support of the Socialist candidate in regional elections in Andalusia. Internationally, he has acted as a mediator with the Venezuelan government to secure the release of political prisoners.
Sanchez on Wednesday expressed support for Zapatero and ruled out calling a snap election.
Amid jeers from opposition lawmakers, he told the lower house of parliament that he fully respected the judiciary and the presumption of innocence, adding: “All my support for Prime Minister Zapatero”.
Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused Sanchez of climbing to power to “plunder everything” and said Spain was ruled by corrupt people.
“Where does lobbying end and influence peddling begin? If this is true, it’s shit,” Gabriel Rufian of left-wing Catalan party ERC – a key Sanchez ally – told the Socialist leader.
The court said on Tuesday that the alleged scheme sought to influence the approval of €53 million ($61.51 million) in public aid to Plus Ultra through Spain’s solvency support fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigating judge Jose Luis Calama found indications that the network used shell companies, simulated documents and opaque financial channels to hide the origin and destination of funds amounting to €1.95 million.
($1 = 0.8626 euros)
(Reporting by Ted Hesson and Joan Faus, additional reporting by David LatonaWriting by Charlie Devereux Editing by Aislinn Laing and Gus Trompiz)
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