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El Ciudadano

Original article: Corte da la razón a la defensa de Manouchehri y rechaza desafuero pedido por Espinoza

The Valparaíso Court of Appeals has denied the request for immunity lift made by Senator Fidel Espinoza against Deputy Daniel Manouchehri, siding with the arguments presented by the parliamentary defense.

Senator Espinoza filed a lawsuit after Manouchehri labeled him as «corrupt» and reported threats against him. These events transpired while the deputy was pursuing impeachment allegations against the then-judge Antonio Ulloa, who was scrutinized for his connections to the Hermosilla case and was ultimately dismissed by the Senate in November 2025. This lawsuit followed soon after.

The Court determined that reporting Espinoza’s threats against Manouchehri does not constitute defamation, acknowledging that Manouchehri’s statements were made in the course of his parliamentary duties.

«Actions we have taken have led to the dismissal of three judges linked to corruption. This has been beneficial for Chile. Neither the threats we’ve received nor the lawsuits will intimidate us. Internal conflicts serve no one. My focus is on continuing to represent the nearly 100,000 people who elected us to Congress, confronting abuses of power with the same bravery and courage as always,» Manouchehri stated.

The conflict has raised significant concern. At the time of the lawsuit brought by the senator, the PS deputies’ caucus publicly supported Manouchehri, warning that judicially pursuing individuals who expose power networks could set a dangerous precedent for parliamentary activity.

This ruling comes amidst various oversight and judicial actions led by Manouchehri and Senator Daniella Cicardini in the context of the Hermosilla case and its implications, where both lawmakers have pointed to networks of influence, favoritism, and inappropriate connections between lawyers, judges, and political actors. In this context, the impeachment allegations against Ulloa were part of a broader offensive aimed at pursuing institutional accountability within the Judiciary.

La entrada Court Rules in Favor of Manouchehri’s Defense, Rejects Espinoza’s Request for Immunity Lift se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.