Revelations About Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Challenge Claims of Misrepresentation

Recent evidence has surfaced indicating that Miguel Ángel Rodríguez knowingly misrepresented facts when he stated in March of last year that the Prosecutor's Office had proposed a deal to Isabel Díaz Ayuso's partner. A message submitted by Rodríguez to the Supreme Court, sent to him by Alberto González Amador shortly after the initial report by elDiario.es, reveals that the businessman informed him that his legal counsel was in negotiations with the Prosecutor's Office and intended to accept a minimal sentence. This stands in stark contrast to Rodríguez's claims to journalists, where he suggested that the negotiations had been halted due to higher authority directives. The message, stating 'Everything remains in place,' contradicts Rodríguez's narrative.

During his recent testimony before Judge Ángel Hurtado, Rodríguez, who serves as the chief of staff for Ayuso, faced inquiries regarding a message he sent to several journalists on the evening of March 13. In it, he referenced an email from Prosecutor Julián Salto and claimed that the proposed agreement from the Prosecutor's Office had been suspended by higher-ups. However, a month prior, González Amador's attorney had proposed a settlement involving a half-million euro payment and an eight-month prison term in exchange for resolving the case without imprisonment.

The message provided by Rodríguez himself to the Supreme Court indicates he was aware of ongoing negotiations. On the morning of March 12, just hours after elDiario.es reported that González Amador was being investigated by the Prosecutor's Office for tax fraud amounting to EUR350,000, he received a message from a contact listed as 'Alberto Quirón,' presumably from his attorney, stating: 'Good morning, Alberto. I have received an email from the prosecutor. Everything seems to be proceeding. I will call the prosecutor to finalize details. My aim is for there to be only one conviction and a minimal fine.'

This message undermines or clarifies much of Rodríguez's public statements over the ensuing months. On the night of March 13, he told several reporters that the agreement originated from the Prosecutor's Office and had been halted due to 'orders from above.' The message he received a day and a half earlier suggests that discussions had been underway and that the attorney had a proposal to present, aiming for a 'minimal fine.'

In his testimony to the Supreme Court and in various media appearances, Rodríguez maintained that he was unaware of any prior negotiations or emails when he shared his version of events with numerous journalists. He insisted that his suggestion of a stoppage 'from above' was merely his 'opinion' rather than a statement of fact. However, the messages submitted to the Supreme Court reveal that he was indeed aware of the attorney's efforts to negotiate a settlement with the Prosecutor's Office, with everything still 'in place.'

Rodríguez has publicly defended Alberto González Amador since elDiario.es disclosed on March 12, 2024, that he was being prosecuted for tax evasion. The Prosecutor's Office alleges he employed a network of false invoices to diminish his tax liability, despite earning EUR2 million during the pandemic as a broker in the sale of sanitary materials.

Rodríguez's actions to publicly support González Amador included threats to 'destroy' the newspaper in correspondence with journalist Esther Palomera and spreading various unfounded claims among journalists. One such claim suggested that the Prosecutor's Office initially offered a deal only to later retract it due to 'higher orders,' implying a deliberate effort to prolong the judicial process against the businessman.

Additionally, Rodríguez circulated unverified claims that two reporters from elDiario.es had attempted to enter Ayuso's residence disguised as technicians.

Upon leaving the Supreme Court, Rodríguez stated that he believed the email from Prosecutor Salto was the sole communication regarding the matter and that the proposed agreement had initially come from the Prosecutor's Office. However, the message from González Amador's attorney, which he forwarded, references earlier discussions and explicitly states that 'everything is still in place,' which is inconsistent with Rodríguez's claim that the process had been halted by 'orders from above.'