Spain’s Deputy National Police Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Madrid, Spain – José Ángel González, the Deputy National Police Chief of Spain, has resigned following the formal investigation of a sexual assault allegation made against him by a subordinate, officials confirmed Tuesday. The case has sent shockwaves through the Spanish law enforcement community and sparked a national conversation about power dynamics and workplace misconduct.
The complainant, a police inspector, filed a formal complaint in January alleging that González pressured her into going to his home where she was sexually assaulted after refusing his advances. According to her lawyer, Jorge Piedrafita, she answered over 300 questions during a two-hour court appearance today, ratifying her initial claims. Audio recordings reportedly documenting the alleged assault and subsequent pressure were submitted as evidence.
González, who stepped down after the complaint became public, vehemently denies the allegations. Emerging from court, he told reporters he was the victim of “malice, baseness and hatred” and that the accusations were motivated by a desire for professional advancement. His lawyer, José Carlos Velasco, stated that the “media truth” differs greatly from the facts of the case and suggested the audio evidence would exonerate his client.
The magistrate presiding over the case rejected a request from the complainant to prevent González from contacting her.
The case has prompted the Interior Ministry to provide security detail to the complainant after her identity was leaked. The woman’s complaint details a past relationship with González, which she ended, followed by what she describes as a pattern of obsessive harassment and unwanted contact culminating in the alleged assault on April 23, 2025. She accuses him of sexual assault with penetration, coercion, psychological harm, and misuse of public funds, citing his position of authority as an aggravating factor.
During today’s hearing, Piedrafita highlighted a discrepancy in González’s account, noting that the judge corrected him when he claimed not to hear the sound of a zipper during playback of the audio recording.
The appointment of José Santafé, currently the head of police in the Balearic Islands, as the new Deputy National Police Chief has already been announced by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, according to reports.
This case comes amid growing scrutiny of workplace misconduct and power imbalances in Spain, and is expected to fuel further debate about accountability within the country’s institutions. The investigation is ongoing.
https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2026/03/17/69b8680be4d4d8c6638b45a3.html
