A Spanish judge, Adolfo Carretero, is under investigation after a video emerged showing his controversial questioning of a woman who accused a prominent former lawmaker of sexual assault.
The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), Spain’s legal watchdog, announced the probe on Wednesday following over 900 complaints against the judge. The complaints were sparked by leaked footage of Carretero’s handling of actress and TV presenter Elisa Mouliaa’s testimony, which aired in several media outlets earlier this week.
During the January 16 hearing, the judge repeatedly questioned Mouliaa’s motives and demeanor in her allegations against Íñigo Errejón, a former lawmaker with the far-left Sumar party. At one point, Carretero asked the 36-year-old: “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?” He also questioned why she did not more forcefully reject the alleged assault, stating: “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?”
The video prompted widespread criticism from members of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government, including Education Minister Pilar Alegría, who said she felt “hurt as a woman” while watching the footage, adding that many other women in Spain likely shared her sentiment. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños also emphasized the need for judges to handle such cases with greater sensitivity.
Errejón, who stepped down as a lawmaker and Sumar’s parliamentary spokesperson in October 2024, had referred to “mistakes” in a cryptic resignation statement but did not elaborate. Shortly after, Mouliaa announced on social media that she had filed a police complaint against the 41-year-old for sexual assault, alleging the incident occurred in September 2021.
The case has caused significant embarrassment for Sánchez’s government, which has made gender equality and combating sexual violence key priorities.