The Ranucci investigation sparks political conflict at RAI.
The Report journalist is under fire for publishing a snippet of a Sangiuliano-Corsini-Boccia phone call. "It's excerpted audio and wild gossip," Forza Italia accuses. "There was no notification of investigation, and the news was of public interest," the host retorts.
Political controversy surrounds Sigfrido Ranucci , following the news that the Rome prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the host of Report for unlawful interference in his private life. The investigation concerns the broadcast, during an episode of the Rai3 program, of a brief audio recording of a phone call between former Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and his wife Monica Corsini, in which reference was made to the suspension of a collaboration contract with councilor Maria Rosaria Boccia .
The audio clip, extracted from hours of conversations, showed—according to Report—that the decision to block Boccia's appointment had been made at the request of his wife, and not for reasons of conflict of interest as the minister had publicly stated. The matter became central to a media scandal that led, in the following months, to Sangiuliano's resignation and sparked a political debate on the internal dynamics of the Ministry of Culture.
The issue was raised by Forza Italia's group leader on the RAI Oversight Committee, Roberto Rosso , who in a statement called it a "serious crime" and called for a reflection on "the type of public service we want to offer citizens." While reiterating the party's stance on fairness, Rosso emphasized that "RAI cannot become a vehicle for vulgar gossip" and called for the company to evaluate the actions of its television personalities.
The Five Star Movement, however, expressed its "solidarity" with Ranucci, who responded with a Facebook post, clarifying that the complaint dates back to December and that he has not yet been served with a notice of investigation . The journalist described the disputed audio as "a fragment of a few seconds" taken from hours of conversations, and argued that it represented "the essence of a story of great public interest ," linked to a scandal that led to the minister's resignation.
According to Ranucci, the recording was made "with Sangiuliano's knowledge," a circumstance confirmed by the former minister's lawyer. Furthermore, the host recalls that the Order of Journalists has already closed its disciplinary action in the case.
The case comes just days after the judiciary's decision to dismiss another complaint against Report filed by former terrorist Luigi Ciavardini. While the investigation continues, the program will remain on Rai3's Sunday schedule, but the case is sparking political debate.
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