New investigation launched in Operation Influencer

Former PM António Costa, now President of European Council, unaware of details, says lawyer.

Photo: @liberdapp.pt

What?

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a new investigation into suspected violations of state secrecy as part of Operation Influencer, a high-profile probe that led to the collapse of Portugal’s Socialist government in November 2023.

The investigation centers on a USB drive seized during searches at the official residence of then-Prime Minister António Costa, now President of the European Council.

According to Sábado magazine, the USB drive, found in a safe in the office of Costa’s former chief of staff, Vítor Escária, allegedly contains sensitive personal data of hundreds of agents from Portugal’s intelligence services, the Judicial Police, and the Tax Authority.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the investigation, stating it was initiated in November 2024 by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) and remains under judicial secrecy.

Sources close to Escária claim he was unaware of the drive’s contents, while his lawyer, Tiago Rodrigues Bastos, stated his client was never questioned about it.

António Costa’s lawyer, João Lima Cluny, emphasized that the former prime minister has “absolutely no knowledge” of the USB drive or its contents.

“At no point was my client confronted with the existence of this alleged USB or its content,” Cluny told Lusa. Costa, who resigned in November 2023 following his implication in Operation Influencer, has not been questioned by prosecutors regarding this new investigation.

Vítor Escária Formally Named a Defendant

On Thursday, Vítor Escária was questioned at the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) and then was formally named as a defendant in the investigation into alleged violations of state secrecy.

The confirmation came from Portugal’s Attorney General, Amadeu Guerra, during a statement to journalists.

During his interrogation, Escária reportedly stated that the USB drive in question had been in the office safe since the tenure of his predecessor, Francisco André, who currently serves as the European Union’s ambassador to Mexico. Sources indicate that André may also be named as a defendant in the case.

Political Fallout and Calls for Accountability

The discovery of the USB drive has reignited political tensions, with the Liberal Initiative (IL) party demanding parliamentary hearings for Costa and his former chiefs of staff, Vítor Escária and Francisco André. IL leader Rui Rocha argued that the alleged breach of state secrecy raises serious concerns about national security and requires urgent clarification.

“We are apparently facing a serious breach of confidentiality regarding highly sensitive matters that could jeopardize state security,” Rocha stated. “It is the duty of the IL to bring those responsible to parliament to explain how this information was handled and whether it was used for political purposes.”

Operation Influencer: A Political Earthquake

Operation Influencer, which began with raids on November 7, 2023, targeted alleged corruption in lithium mining, hydrogen energy projects, and a data center development in Sines.

The investigation led to the arrests of several high-profile figures, including Escária, lawyer Diogo Lacerda Machado, and the mayor of Sines, Nuno Mascarenhas. The scandal forced Costa’s resignation and triggered early elections, ending eight years of Socialist rule.

The case has since been divided into three separate inquiries, focusing on the Sines data center project, lithium exploration in Montalegre and Boticas, and hydrogen energy production. All defendants have denied any wrongdoing.

This story is developing.