Leire Díez's seized notebooks expose a PSOE-linked network to manipulate judicial investigations across Spain's state institutions

A network of influence

Agendas seized by the Guardia Civil's Central Operative Unit (UCO) from former PSOE member Leire Díez, known as the 'fontanera' or plumber, detail a systematic campaign to undermine judicial proceedings that threatened the Socialist party, the government, and president Pedro Sánchez. Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional is investigating what he describes as a conspiracy driven from the party's Ferraz headquarters, allegedly coordinated by former PSOE organisation secretary Santos Cerdán.

Meetings at the highest levels

Díez's records show a pattern of visits to state institutions. In March and April 2025 she met at the Fiscalía General del Estado with Diego Villafañe, then the right-hand man of attorney general Álvaro García Ortiz, and prosecutor Beatriz López Pesquera. The encounters, which the Fiscalía only acknowledged after a judicial request, took place while the first criminal case against Díez was already active. She also held at least two meetings with the then director of the Guardia Civil, documented in the inquiry as attempts to learn about or influence ongoing investigations.

Financial mechanics and the WhatsApp group

Díez, businessman Vicente Fernández and Pamplona entrepreneur Antxon Alonso operated a WhatsApp group called 'Hirurok' — Basque for 'the three of us'. The UCO report points to a conversation on 12 May 2024 in which Díez told Fernández that Cerdán intended to channel payments to her through the company Andalukadi SL, where she is the sole partner. When Fernández questioned whether the company's property-focused corporate purpose was suitable, Díez replied:

“Consulting. It can't be anything else. I don't know if I like them doing it through Gaspar Zarrías's office.”

Defense takes shape

Facing a potential trial, some of those under investigation are beginning to distance themselves from Díez. A defense lawyer consulted by La Razón argued that no real coordination existed and that Díez exaggerated her reach:

“This was all more in her head than in a real basis of actions. The proof is that of everything she promised, she achieved nothing, because she had no leverage.”

The strategy is to present each suspected member as acting separately to improve their own legal situation, without knowledge of the more opaque activities attributed to Díez.

Judicial orders widen

On 13 March 2026 judge Pedraz tasked the tax agency with tracing the accounts of Andalukadi SL. The probe, which grew out of the Sepi case in which Díez was arrested in December 2025, continues to expand. The Guardia Civil's director general conceded on 4 June that at least two meetings with Díez had taken place, and the Fiscalía General belatedly confirmed its own encounters with the former party operative.