Audio of ex-police chief begging subordinate for sex leads judge to open summary proceedings for sexual assault
A Madrid judge has escalated the case against José Ángel González, the former deputy operational director of Spain's National Police, after an audio recording captured him pleading with a subordinate inspector to have sex and admitting he brought her to his home.
The audio that changed the case
The investigation into José Ángel González, who resigned as DAO on 17 February 2026, turned on a phone call recorded shortly after the alleged assault on 23 April 2025. In the call, obtained exclusively by EL MUNDO, González tells the inspector: "I never thought you could be so, so, so stubborn and that you would leave me hanging like this when you see I'm begging you to make love to you." At minute 2:30, he adds: "I don't know why I brought you up to my house."
I don't know why I brought you up to my house.
The victim's lawyer, Jorge Piedrafita, submitted the recording on 7 May, and it was judicially verified on 5 June. The judge, David Maman Benchimol, contrasted the audio with González's 17 March court statement, in which he claimed he never told the inspector to come up and that she "always came up."
From preliminary proceedings to summary
On 11 June, the head of Madrid's Court of Violence against Women No. 8 transformed the case from preliminary proceedings into an ordinary summary, a step taken when the alleged crime may carry a sentence exceeding nine years. The judge wrote that the facts "bear the characteristics of a presumed crime of sexual assault" and that the case should be heard by the Provincial Court of Madrid.
A body of evidence has been established that allows the prosecution to continue.
The ruling does not yet open a trial, but it signals that the investigation has uncovered sufficient grounds to proceed. The judge has asked both sides whether they wish to request additional investigative steps and has ordered the accused's criminal record to be obtained.
Defence pushes back
González's lawyer, José Carlos Velasco, filed a motion to close the summary without charges, arguing that "there are no sufficient rational indications of criminality" to sustain the accusation. The defence contends that the inspector's testimony has shifted during her statement and that she acted out of "jealousy, frustrated expectations and professional interests."
We are not dealing with a firm and consistent version, but with an account that has varied as her statement progressed and as fragments of the audio were played.
The victim, who filed her complaint on 9 January 2026, maintains that González ordered her to drive him to his official Interior Ministry residence and then sexually assaulted her, using his authority.
What comes next
The case now moves toward a potential trial at the Provincial Court of Madrid. Piedrafita says he will present additional evidence to "reinforce the evidentiary framework" and expose what he calls the accused's lies. The judge's decision to open a summary, rather than continue with preliminary proceedings, reflects the gravity of the alleged offence and the weight of the medical, psychological and audio evidence already gathered.
- Alleged sexual assault takes place at González's official residence.
- Victim files formal complaint.
- González resigns as Deputy Operational Director.
- González testifies before the judge, denies inviting the victim upstairs.
- Victim's lawyer submits the incriminating audio recording.
- Audio is judicially verified.
- Judge transforms case into ordinary summary proceedings.
- Defence requests closure of the summary; judge asks parties about additional evidence.
