Wiretap Evidence Contradicts Costa's 2023 Statements on Sines Data Center Case

The Portugal Judicial Police have confronted the country's former prime minister with wiretap evidence that contradicts his sworn public statements about the Sines data center project—a case now central to the sprawling Operação Influencer corruption inquiry that toppled his government in November 2023.

Why This Matters:

• Credibility crisis: António Costa, now president of the European Council, faces allegations he misled the nation when he resigned in November 2023.

• EUR 8.5B at stake: The Start Campus project in Sines is designed to deliver 1.2 GW of data capacity and could create thousands of jobs for the Alentejo region.

• Open investigation: Despite 20,000 pages of evidence, prosecutors have yet to file formal charges—and Costa claims he's been denied access to the dossier.

• Political silence: Former President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who dissolved Parliament over the scandal, refuses to revisit the decision.

What the Wiretaps Reveal

According to CNN Portugal and TVI, investigators obtained a December 24, 2022 phone conversation between Costa and his personal friend Diogo Lacerda Machado—a consultant earning over EUR 6,500 monthly from the Start Campus venture. In the recording, Costa reportedly opened with: "I already know you went there to give good news to [Vítor] Escária"—referring to his then-chief of staff.

Lacerda Machado allegedly responded that "the project has an extraordinary dynamic and, apparently, the Americans are finally getting serious about Sines... I thought it justified you knowing about this." Costa is said to have replied: "And it's good they're enthusiastic because the environment here in Europe is very diversified regarding Americans."

The exchange directly contradicts Costa's November 2023 televised statement, in which he declared: "Never, in any circumstance, did [Lacerda Machado] speak to me about this matter." Both men are now implicated—Lacerda Machado as a formal suspect (arguido) in the case, and Costa as someone whose communications have been monitored during the investigation.

The Broader Corruption Probe

Operação Influencer, launched in November 2023, is investigating alleged corruption, influence peddling, and malfeasance tied to three major infrastructure projects:

• The Start Campus hyperscale data center in Sines (Setúbal district), backed by US-based Davidson Kempner Capital Management.

• Lithium mining concessions in Montalegre and Boticas (Vila Real district).

• A green hydrogen production facility, also in Sines.

Five individuals were detained on November 7, 2023, including Vítor Escária, in whose office police discovered EUR 75,800 in cash hidden in books, wine boxes, and envelopes. Escária claimed the money came from consulting work in Angola. Judicial authorities initially pursued charges of corruption and malfeasance, but a Lisbon Court of Appeal ruling in April 2024 narrowed the accusations to influence trafficking only—and then ruled there was insufficient evidence even for that. The inquiry remains open.

Costa's Defense: "I Know Nothing"

Questioned in Braga on Tuesday after attending the 50th anniversary of the University of Minho's International Relations program, Costa declined to comment on the wiretap revelations. "I don't know anything about the case," he stated. "I was heard almost two years ago, at my own request. Since then I have no idea what's happened. I've requested access to the file multiple times. So unlike you [journalists], I've never had access. I won't comment on what I don't know."

Costa was never formally named an arguido (suspect under Portuguese law), though prosecutors classified him as a suspeito—a designation that allowed investigators to monitor his communications indirectly through associates.

Marcelo's Wall of Silence

Former President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who dissolved the XXIII Constitutional Government and called early elections in response to the scandal, was approached by reporters at a school visit in Ansião (Leiria district) on Tuesday. Asked whether the wiretap evidence would change his decision to dismiss Costa's government, Rebelo de Sousa was blunt: "I don't say anything. Thank you."

When pressed, he repeated: "Politics I don't discuss. Not politics, not justice, nothing. I don't discuss." Rebelo de Sousa has embarked on a nationwide tour of schools under his post-presidency initiative, focusing on educational engagement in communities across Portugal.

Impact on Residents and Investors

The stalled legal process carries concrete consequences for Portugal's economic strategy. The Start Campus project represents a significant private investment commitment in the country's recent history and is intended to position Sines as a global connectivity hub linking North America, Africa, and Latin America via undersea fiber optics.

The project is planned to deliver 1.2 GW of data capacity by 2028, representing a substantial contribution to Portugal's renewable energy infrastructure. For residents in Sines and across the Alentejo region, the project promises thousands of direct and indirect jobs, though environmental groups have raised questions about the sustainability of routing substantial renewable capacity to a single corporate tenant.

The shadow of the Influencer inquiry has nonetheless complicated investor confidence in the region, as key stakeholders await clarity on the legal proceedings affecting the project's management and oversight.

What Happens Next

The Ministério Público continues its investigation without rushing to formal charges due to procedural and evidential complexities. Formal accusations have yet to be filed against any of the principal figures, including Lacerda Machado and Escária. Recent reports indicate procedural disputes over the handling of certain wiretap evidence, with prosecutors clarifying details about call records and communications monitoring.

In the meantime, Costa's dual role as European Council president and subject of a domestic corruption inquiry puts Portugal in an awkward diplomatic position. The case has revived debate over transparency in PIN (Project of National Interest) designations, which fast-track environmental and regulatory approvals for major investments.

The scandal has contributed to broader concerns about governance and public trust in Portuguese institutions, with the investigation's slow progress underscoring the complexity of high-level corruption cases involving political figures.

For now, the 20,000-page dossier remains sealed to all but the formal suspects, leaving journalists, the public, and the accused former prime minister himself in a state of uncertainty—one that may persist for months before the courts deliver a final verdict.