Italian Influencer Raided Over Political Scandal with Ex-Minister

Italian law enforcement has conducted a raid on the residence of Maria Rosaria Boccia, an influencer whose involvement with former tourism minister Gennaro Sangiuliano led to his political downfall. The operation resulted in the confiscation of "spy glasses" allegedly used by Boccia to record footage within the Italian parliament.

Boccia is currently under scrutiny for purportedly making threats against Sangiuliano, who resigned from his position earlier this month due to their affair. While the specific nature of the alleged threats remains undisclosed, Italian law considers threats against public officials a serious offense.

The raid took place in Pompeii, a town adjacent to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage site preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Authorities seized Boccia's computer, mobile phone, and a pair of Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, which were launched in 2021 in collaboration with Meta (formerly Facebook). These devices were reportedly used to capture video of Boccia walking through the corridors of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

The recording and subsequent sharing of this footage on social media platforms violated parliamentary rules prohibiting visitors from capturing video or audio within the legislative chambers. As a consequence, Boccia has been barred from entering the parliament building.

"The unauthorized recording and dissemination of footage from within the parliamentary premises is a serious breach of security protocols and privacy regulations. Appropriate measures have been taken to prevent future occurrences."

In addition to the alleged threats, Boccia is also under investigation for assault, following accusations that she physically attacked Sangiuliano, resulting in a head injury. Prior to his resignation, the minister was seen at public events with a conspicuous bandage on his forehead.

The relationship between Sangiuliano, 62, and Boccia, 41, appears to have deteriorated in July 2024. Leaked private text messages published by Italian newspaper La Verità revealed intense emotional exchanges between the two, with Boccia expressing that Sangiuliano had "sent her out of her mind."

Sangiuliano made a public apology on national television, expressing remorse to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the embarrassment caused and to his wife for his infidelity. This marks the first ministerial resignation from Meloni's right-wing government since it assumed power in November 2022.

The scandal has raised concerns about potential security breaches, as Boccia claimed to have been privy to classified information regarding a G7 culture ministers' summit. Italy, a founding member of the G7, has previously hosted such meetings, including the first G7 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Florence in 2017.

As investigations continue, this incident highlights the intersection of politics, social media influence, and privacy in modern Italy. The country, known for its rich cultural heritage with 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2024, now faces the challenge of navigating the complexities of digital-age scandals within its political sphere.