The statement of Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría and Javier Arenas in the trial of the so-called ‘Operation Kitchen’ has followed the same script as that of other senior PP officials: denial of the facts, ignorance of the plot, and total distance from the alleged espionage against former treasurer Luis Bárcenas.
Both have appeared as witnesses in the National Court, where the alleged parapolice operation initiated from the Ministry of the Interior during the Government of Mariano Rajoy to steal sensitive information from Bárcenas is being investigated.
Sáenz de Santamaría: "I have no record" of the operation
The former vice president has been adamant in disassociating herself from any knowledge of Kitchen. During her statement, she literally affirmed that "I have no knowledge" of the existence of that operation while she was part of the Executive.
Sáenz de Santamaría has gone further by assuring that she learned everything related to the case “through the press”, despite the fact that at that time she was responsible for the control of the CNI.
He has also denied having given instructions or having had any relationship with commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, a key figure in the investigated plot.
Arenas denies the slush fund and distances himself from the recordings
For his part, Javier Arenas has followed a similar line, denying any knowledge of the operation and of the alleged irregular financing of the party.
The popular leader has rejected having information about the existence of a slush fund in the PP and has downplayed the controversy over a possible recording with Bárcenas. In this regard, he has declared that “if that recording existed, it was without my approval”.
Arenas has insisted that he had no knowledge of that episode or of any action related to espionage.
A pattern that repeats in the Kitchen trial
The statements by Sáenz de Santamaría and Arenas reinforce the defense line maintained by other PP leaders who have gone through the trial, based on ignorance of the facts and detachment from any political responsibility.
The National High Court tribunal continues to analyze the contradictions between these testimonies and the elements gathered in the case file on the so-called "state sewers" in Spain.