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Vatican vendettas: Alleged witness manipulation jolts trial
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FILE - Italian communications expert Francesca Chaouqui talks to journalists July 7, 2016, after a Vatican court convicted her and a Vatican monsignor for having conspired to pass documents to two Italian journalist. A Vatican trial into a money-losing investment has been jolted by revelations that a key prosecution witness was apparently manipulated into changing his story and cooperating with prosecutors. - photo by AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, File
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The text message to the Vatican monsignor offered forgiveness along with a threat: “I know everything about you … and I keep it all in my archives,” it read. “I pardon you, Perlasca, but remember, you owe me a favor.” The message was one of more than 100 newly revealed WhatsApp texts and other correspondence entered into evidence at the Vatican courthouse last week that have jolted a financial crimes trial involving the Holy See’s money-losing investment in a London property. The texts have cast doubt on the credibility of a key suspect-turned-prosecution witness and raised questions about the integrity of the investigation into the London deal and other transactions.