Francisco Martín Aguirre, the Government Delegate in Madrid, has publicly denied any involvement in the appointment of Cristina Álvarez as an advisor to Begoña Gómez, the spouse of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

This statement was made on Wednesday after Martín Aguirre was interrogated by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado regarding allegations of malversation linked to the appointment, which occurred in July 2018 in Moncloa.

Martín Aguirre stated to reporters, "I can confirm that I did NOT PARTICIPATE AT ANY TIME in that appointment for which I have been cited." He added that during his tenure as Secretary of the Presidency, he was never aware of any failure in Álvarez's duties.

As he exited the court in Plaza de Castilla, he faced a barrage of protests from onlookers.

The delegate characterized his situation as "CALM," insisting that "EVERYTHING WILL END UP AS NOTHING, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING" and expressed confidence in the nation's judicial system and the rule of law.

Martín Aguirre is under investigation for a presumed crime of malversation concerning his "apparent involvement" while serving in the General Secretariat of the Presidency during the appointment of Álvarez.

His court statement was notably brief, lasting approximately fifteen minutes, with responses primarily directed to three questions posed by his legal counsel.

The basis for the inquiry follows a complaint filed by the political party Vox, which has been added to a broader investigation into Begoña Gómez for alleged influence peddling, business corruption, embezzlement of brand assets, and professional intrusion.

The presiding judge believes Martín Aguirre could have committed a malversation offense while serving as Chief of Staff to the current Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, at the time of Cristina Álvarez's official hiring.

The Prosecutor's Office has raised objections to the decision to charge Martín Aguirre, arguing that when Álvarez began her role in Moncloa in 2018, Martín Aguirre was acting as the Technical Cabinet Director of the Presidency General Secretariat and did not assume the position of General Secretary until July 2021. The prosecution expressed that it is "INCOMPREHENSIBLE" to question his involvement, asserting that a participation in an appointment made three years earlier does not hold validity.

Martín Aguirre, expressing tranquility in his conscience and a willingness to cooperate with the investigation, has now become the sixth individual investigated alongside Begoña Gómez, Cristina Álvarez, businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, Complutense University Rector Joaquín Goyache, and former Madrid government counselor Juan José Güemes.

The judge, Peinado, is also pursuing inquiries into a separate aspect of the case involving funding from companies such as Google, Indra, and Minsait for a platform related to a master's program co-directed by Begoña Gómez at the Complutense University.

Executives from Minsait and Google, among others, have recently appeared before the court to elaborate on their companies' investments in the software of the University’s Extraordinarily Competitive Social Transformation Chair, which Gómez is alleged to have misappropriated.

They reported that due to their roles, they were not privy to detailed knowledge of such investments and have provided names of employees who were.

Additionally, the lawyer for the group Hazte Oír has indicated intentions to file a new complaint regarding the rescue of Air Europa, prompted by newly uncovered messages between Pedro Sánchez and former PSOE deputy José Luis Ábalos, disclosed on Wednesday.