Spain
Garzón did not pocket seminar funds, says bank chief
BBVA Chairman Francisco González yesterday assured the Supreme Court that not one cent of 200,000 euro the bank contributed to High Court Judge Baltasar Garzón's organization of a series of seminars in New York ended up in the magistrate’s pockets.
González said that his bank was keen on financing the seminar that Garzón was coordinating, not because he was a High Court judge, but because BBVA was interested in the subject matter — international terrorism — and the school, New York University (NYU).
Testifying for two hours, the BBVA chairman said he never spoke to Garzón about money, adding that the request for financing came from Karen Greenberg, director of NYU's Center of Law and Security.
The Supreme Court is investigating whether Garzón, who is now at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, should be charged with bribery and acting improperly in the case.
(Published by El País – July 15, 2010)