Il Bridge over the Strait returns to the center of national news and politics. The Rome Prosecutor's Office is investigating corruption and disclosure of official secrets as part of the project to build the facility. Three people are under investigation: Thomas Honey, former deputy president of the Court of Auditors, retired since February, the entrepreneur Vincenzo Virgiglio, responsible for external relations of the association "Accademia Calabria", and the lawyer James Francis Saccomanno, a former member of the board of directors of the Stretto di Messina Spa company and a Lega commissioner in Calabria from 2021 to 2024. The suspicion is that they attempted to influence the inspections for the final project's approval by the Court of Auditors, the constitutionally mandated body that oversees the proper use of public resources.
Strait of Messina Bridge: Prosecutor's Office Charges
The proceedings, coordinated by the deputy Giuseppe De Falco, concern alleged attempts of influence the legitimacy examination of the accounting judges on the approval of the final project of the Bridge over the Strait. The Carabinieri of the ROS have carried out searches in Rome, in the province of Reggio Calabria and in the Frosinone area, seizing electronic devices and documentation deemed useful for the investigations.
According to the prosecution, Virgiglio and Saccomanno would have tried to influence the accounting judge Tommaso Miele, asking for his "effective action" to favor the green light for the project in exchange for support for future positions in public bodies After retirement. Not only that. Investigators hypothesize that Virgiglio and Saccomanno approached other magistrates considered close to the group's interests and disseminated confidential information acquired from Miele.
Miele's alleged role
The former accounting judge, the prosecution claims, would have acted as a "mole" in the court, providing updates on the progress of the procedure, revealing information on the orientations of his colleagues and on the development of the Council Chamber called to rule on the CIPESS resolution. The magistrate would also have examined the unfavorable decision of October 29, 2025, committing to prepare a report on the matter to be delivered to the company's accountant, expressing, in exchange, an interest in becoming president of the Antitrust Authority or of a participating company.
From the documents, he explainsHandleThe relationship between Miele and the entrepreneur Virgiglio also emerges. The former deputy president of the Court of Auditors was reportedly interested in obtaining "top positions in public law bodies after retirement." Miele seemed certain of his future assignments. "When I retire," he stated, unaware he was being wiretapped, "I should be the president of I don't know what else... but they asked me if I was available... I set my sights high... I'm spoiled for choice, and I'll tell you the truth..."
The reactions
"I have no fear, I have done absolutely nothing"It's a completely erroneous reconstruction. I hope they did it inadvertently," the lawyer commented. James Saccomanno. "I feel sorry for poor Judge Tommaso Miele and for Enzo Virgiglio himself, who, among other things, is a friend I've known for 60 years. I don't understand how a simple comment can be grounds for corruption." This is a search and seizure of computer systems, which I immediately handed over to the Carabinieri without any problem," added the former Lega commissioner in Calabria. "Nothing was done and nothing was committed. Even reading the request reveals a series of inaccuracies, and in any case, I never had a direct conversation with Miele, who is implicated in this affair, certainly not for corruption; he didn't even vote."
“We were surprised by the media reports on investigations in which the company has no involvement whatsoever,” he said. Pietro Ciucci, CEO of Stretto di Messina Spa, confirming "our full willingness to cooperate with the investigating authorities." "We will take all necessary measures," he added, "to protect the company's interests and the project."
The opposition: "Stop the work"
Pd and Mgs define the investigation by the Rome Prosecutor's Office into the Strait of Messina Bridge as "disturbing" and ask the government "to stop the work” because the situation "is increasingly opaque".
"We have been denouncing for years the harmfulness and uselessness of this project, which is the only investment that the Meloni government has included in the budget for four years, 13 billion euros, for a project that is also harmful from an environmental point of view and not sustainable from an economic point of view", declared the secretary of the Democratic Party. Elly Schlein. “Together with AVS, we had filed some complaints ourselves regarding some unclear aspects, so it's a good thing that the judiciary is investigating and doing its job, and we will naturally follow developments very closely.”
For Giuseppe Conte, M5S leader, we're facing "yet another failure for the Meloni government. They can't get anything right, let's get those 13 billion back immediately."
For grandparents The investigation would confirm "what we have repeatedly denounced regarding a useless and expensive project and the serious risk of infiltration by illicit interests." "I am not at all surprised," commented the leader of Azione. Carlo Calenda, according to whom the investigation is far from concluded: “I think the matter is bigger than how it has come out up to now”.
The Vice President of the Chamber intervenes from the majority Fabio Rampelli, of FdI: "I refuse to believe that certain magistrates intend to hinder the natural course of major projects with the tools at their disposal. I am certain that the company will be able to demonstrate its innocence, and in any case, the responsibility of individual professionals must be clearly distinguished from the value of the infrastructure, which urgently needs to be built because it will bring an objective benefit to all of Italy, starting with Southern Italy. Enough with the obstacles and excuses."
"Trust in those who must conduct investigations and checks, but 'no' to immediate sentences and speculation. Major projects serve to make this country more modern and more accessible," declared the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last night. Maurizio Gasparri, to Tg3.
