After the pardon

Minetti case, Milan public prosecutor: "Possible change of opinion". She: 'Adoptive path in respect of the law'. Meloni: I trust Nordio

The magistrates of the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office: 'We have a clear conscience'

by Rome Editorial Staff

28 April 2026

Bufera dopo gli scoop del Fatto Quotidiano sulla grazia a Nicole Minetti

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Doubts about grace
The opinion of the Milan Court of Appeal that "could change"
Prosecutor's responsibility and response: "Conscience at ease"

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, should Nicole Minetti's petition for pardon prove to be based on inconsistent and untrue elements, will forward the documents to the Public Prosecutor's Office to open an investigation against the dental hygienist. This is what we learn in Milan judicial circles. Among the investigations delegated to Interpol are also those concerning the period when Minetti allegedly stayed in Ibiza. It has been reported that, given the urgency, Deputy Prosecutor General Gaetano Brusa has asked to be informed even in the event of partial results of the investigations.

After the swift investigations of the Ministry of Justice, which presented the request for pardonof the former regional councillor of Lombardy to the Quirinal, those of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Appeal of Milan, in agreement with Interpol, are now underway. In the late morning, the Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio, reached Palazzo Chigi, where he met for about an hour with the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, Alfredo Mantovano. According to reports, the meeting was already scheduled and focused on the examination of some measures.

Minetti herself intervened in a note: 'I categorically deny that I have ever engaged in litigation with the biological parents of my son, whom I have never met'. 'The entire adoption process was carried out in full compliance with the law,' she adds, 'following the ordinary procedure, from the pre-adoption phase to the final fostering, as documented and attached'. 'The reconstructions spread by some press organs,' Minetti affirms, 'are therefore unfounded and damaging, as well as in contrast with the rules and the same deontological principles for the protection of minors. 'I consider it my duty to intervene to protect my person, my family and above all my son, who has been seriously exposed to an undue and unjustified media exposure'. 'False reconstructions have been spread, seriously damaging my reputation, accompanied by the disclosure of information concerning a minor that, by law, should never have been made public, in blatant violation of the principles established to protect minors'. Minetti also states 'that I have never been investigated nor have I ever received communications of investigations against me, neither in Uruguay nor in Spain'.

In the evening, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on the Minetti case: 'I trust Minister Nordio.

Caso Minetti, Meloni: Non sono il Presidente della Repubblica, non mi fate fare il suo lavoro

Doubts about grace

Let us go in order. In February a pardon was granted by Head of State Sergio Mattarella to Nicole Minetti, who had accumulated 3 years and 11 months of sentences for aiding and abetting prostitution and embezzlement. The clemency measure was triggered because of her family situation, in particular the health condition of a minor overseas whom she had adopted.

But since then, with an enquiry started by Il Fatto quotidiano, doubts have arisen concerning the minor's family situation. Thus, the Quirinale - as well as reiterating that it cannot carry out checks on the pardons that arrive from the Ministry of Justice - has asked the Guardasigilli to carry out further verifications.

Grazia Minetti, Quirinale chiede chiarimenti al Ministero della Giustizia

The opinion of the Court of Appeal of Milan that "could change"

We come to the final hours. Meanwhile, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Appeal of Milan has been put in the middle. In fact, it immediately asked the Ministry of Justice for permission to return to the case.

Now, Interpol, the international criminal police organisation, has also been involved. 'In agreement with the attorney general we are already activated for verifications,' said the deputy prosecutor of the Court of Appeal of Milan, Gaetano Brusa, from our police forces to those of Interpol, with the utmost urgency. We will go on until we find all the elements, positive or negative. We will also repeat investigations in Italia on the authenticity of medical and other documents. All the circumstances are being investigated: from the adoption procedures abroad to the death of the child's biological mother's lawyer. If we encounter obstacles we will take the next step for a rogatory".

The investigations, clarified Milan's attorney general, Francesca Nanni, 'could lead to a modification of our opinion'. In short, a confirmation that there could be a turnaround after granting the pardon if the prerequisites for which it was authorised are lacking (here the details).

Caso Minetti, il ministero della Giustizia risponde: "Nessun anomalia"

The responsibilities and the response of the public prosecutor's office: "Conscience at ease"

From the Procura Generale d'Appello di Milano, however, the magistrates let it be known that they 'acted on the basis of the ministry's delegation, a classic delegation activated in similar cases. We don't care what they say about us, we have our conscience and we know what to do, and we did the investigations. The ministry deemed them suitable for its opinion and the Presidency of the Republic deemed them sufficient. It is now in everyone's interest to clarify the facts indicated.