Podcast Summary:
Un tema al Día – “La casa de Julio Iglesias (IV): ‘Y lo sabes’”
January 16, 2026
Host: Juanlu Sánchez (elDiario.es)
Notable Guest: Ignacio Escolar (Director de elDiario.es)

Overview

This fourth installment concludes a landmark investigative series by elDiario.es into sexual assault allegations against Julio Iglesias. The episode explores the global impact of the exposé, the intricate three-year journalistic process behind it, societal and legal ramifications, political reactions, and what this investigation means for both the newsroom and the broader fight for media credibility and accountability in Spain.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

The Scope and Impact of the Investigation

• Investigative Process

  • The series resulted from a secret three-year investigation starting from a chance lead and building through patient verification and expansion of sources.
  • More than a dozen interviews with former staff over 20 years; corroboration with external confidants, medical documents, and unreleased documentary evidence.
  • Two parallel legal teams (Spain and the US), rigorous fact-checking, and a multi-layered editorial process ensured the reliability of every published fact.
  • (E: “Esto es escalar el Everest para un periodista.” [06:57])

• Global Media Echo

  • The story exploded internationally with over 4,400 news items in 72 hours, making it one of elDiario.es’s most influential pieces.
  • (A: “Informativos y programas de radio y televisión cambiando sobre la marcha su programación para hacerle hueco…” [01:39])
  • Extensive pride in the editorial office; the significance of showing that Spanish journalism can operate at global standards.

• The Core of the Story

  • Beyond the celebrity: The real focus is on alleged abuse of power by a wealthy, white, male celebrity in a poor country over young, racialized, and vulnerable women.
  • The mission of elDiario.es is explicitly to expose and confront abuses of power.
  • (E: “Esto va de contar cómo los hombres blancos ricos se aprovechan de las personas pobres y vulnerables.” [07:41])
  • The ripple effect: public exposure of abuse deters future abuses through fear of media scrutiny.

Legal and Judicial Ramifications

• Status of the Case/Explainability

  • The Spanish Audiencia Nacional’s Fiscalía has opened a preliminary investigation, preparing to take protected witness statements from the alleged victims ("Laura" and "Rebeca").
  • The reported incidents took place in 2021 in the Dominican Republic but meet legal prerequisites to be tried in Spain due to the accused’s nationality, lack of ongoing process abroad, and nature of the alleged crime.
  • The possibility remains that further alleged victims may come forward.
  • (E: “Si se cumplen todos esos ingredientes, claro que es competente. Primero para investigar ... después para juzgar.” [10:09])
  • The process promises to be lengthy, involving protected testimony and ongoing journalistic investigation.

• Response from Julio Iglesias

  • Despite repeated outreach since January 2, Iglesias has not engaged with journalists' questions. Instead, he has blocked numbers and ignored direct and indirect requests for comment.
  • Iglesias is said (by intermediaries) to be preparing a “forceful” response, though it is unclear if this means legal action.
  • (E: “No ha querido contestar ni antes de nuestra publicación ni todavía hasta hoy.” [12:32])

Political and Societal Reactions

• Political Spin and Attacks
  • Isabel Díaz Ayuso (President of the Community of Madrid) dismissed the investigation as a partisan campaign, referencing “ultraizquierda” and linking to unrelated international issues.
  • Notably, right-wing political figures have varied in their responses, with some being more measured than Ayuso—contrasted explicitly in the discussion.
  • The show criticizes incoherence among political reactions, especially when similar abuse allegations against individuals from diverse political alignments have also been covered by elDiario.es.
  • (A: “Es sorprendente que los mismos políticos que dan credibilidad plena a nuestra información sobre Paco Salazar dicen que cuando hablamos de julio Iglesias es una campaña de difamación.” [15:39])
  • The editorial position is forcefully reiterated: their reporting standards and values are consistent regardless of the involved party.

Reflections on Journalism and Organizational Culture

• Investigative Model at elDiario.es
  • Unlike other outlets, elDiario.es lacks a fixed investigative team; key stories often arise from various sections, reflecting a culture where every journalist considers probing abuses of power paramount.
  • Every major exclusive is treated as an organizational learning opportunity, mutually raising standards and capacity for future work.
  • The value and impact of reader-supported, independent journalism are underscored repeatedly.
  • (E: “No es que seamos más valientes, somos más independientes.” [18:38])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the difficulty and thoroughness of the investigation:
  • “Esto es escalar el Everest para un periodista.” (Ignacio Escolar, [06:57])
• On the story’s core theme:
  • “Esto va de contar cómo los hombres blancos ricos se aprovechan de las personas pobres y vulnerables.” (Ignacio Escolar, [07:41])
• On the necessity for transparency and checks:
  • “No todo aparece ni siquiera citado, pero hemos contrastado con todas ellas … solo después ya nos vemos capaces de darle veracidad…” (Ignacio Escolar, [04:51])
• On the global impact:
  • “Estamos desde el New York Times hasta Le Monde, hasta la prensa latinoamericana, hasta la prensa en India, en Japón, en todo el planeta Tierra…” (Ignacio Escolar, [03:32])
• On Iglesias’s silence:
  • “No nos ha dado respuesta. Ha bloqueado algunos de los números de nuestras periodistas en WhatsApp…” (Ignacio Escolar, [12:20])
• On political inconsistency:
  • “Es sorprendente que los mismos políticos ... dan credibilidad plena a nuestra información sobre Paco Salazar ... cuando hablamos de julio Iglesias es una campaña de difamación. No hay una mínima coherencia.” (Ignacio Escolar, [15:39])
• On journalistic mission:
  • “No es que seamos más valientes, somos más independientes.” (Ignacio Escolar, [18:38])

Key Timestamps

• Impact and scope of coverage: [01:39]–[03:03]
• Investigative process explained: [04:24]–[07:04]
• Why the story matters: [07:13]–[08:52]
• Legal ramifications: [09:13]–[11:52]
• Julio Iglesias’s response: [11:52]–[13:06]
• Political reactions: [13:06]–[16:41]
• Reflections on newsroom culture: [16:41]–[19:06]

Final Thoughts

This capstone episode highlights the profound effort, risk, and societal relevance of the Julio Iglesias investigation—not as celebrity gossip, but as urgent commentary on the persistence of abuse, the mechanisms of impunity, and the pivotal role of independent, ethical journalism. The team’s refusal to compromise on rigor, fairness, or mission stands out, buttressed by an unapologetically critical stance toward political hypocrisy and media skepticism.

For more details, the full investigation is available at eldiario.es.