A judge in Spain is under investigation after a video emerged of him aggressively questioning a woman who accused a former lawmaker of sexual assault.
The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), Spain’s legal watchdog, announced on Wednesday that it had opened an internal probe into Judge Adolfo Carretero following more than 900 complaints regarding his conduct.
The video, which surfaced on Monday, shows Carretero questioning actress and television presenter Elisa Mouliaa during a January 16 hearing concerning her allegations against Inigo Errejon, a former lawmaker of the far-left party Sumar. Mouliaa claims Errejon sexually assaulted her in September 2021.
The judge repeatedly asked Mouliaa whether her motives for accusing Errejon were related to a perceived personal or professional slight, suggesting that she might have fabricated the allegations after he refused to give her something.
He also questioned how she, as a public figure, could have been unaware that the situation was unacceptable. This line of questioning has been widely condemned, especially by members of the coalition government, including Education Minister Pilar Alegria, who said she “felt hurt as a woman” by the video.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos emphasised that judges must handle such sensitive cases with care and understanding.
The controversy surrounding Errejon intensified when he stepped down from his position in October, citing unspecified “mistakes,” and shortly afterwards, Mouliaa filed a police report accusing him of sexual assault.
The scandal has placed additional pressure on the Spanish government, which has been outspoken in its commitment to gender equality and combating sexual violence.
