Varriale tells Lavitola: 'The plan was for a journalist who commanded the magistrates'

Naples – Valter Lavitola and betrayed friendships: this could be the title of one of the most important chapters in the life of the Salerno-born fixer, at the center of investigations and misdeeds and now in prison on charges of instigating the attack on journalist Sigfrido Ranucci.

Lucio Varriale, a 74-year-old Neapolitan lawyer known for his appearances on 'Julie Italia' and who was linked to Lavitola until a few years ago, recounted the behind-the-scenes story of another self-interested 'friendship'.

In an interview published by Libero, the lawyer recounts his relationship with the former editor of L'avanti, as well as the loans he granted, the pressure, and the favors. A crescendo of requests that led Varriale to distance himself from Lavitola.

Lawyer Varriale: "In 2024, he told me about a journalist's project. I thought it was Saviano, but it was actually Ranucci."

But the background that could bring the Neapolitan lawyer before the Roman judges investigating the attack is linked to the 'candidacy' of a well-known journalist in the political elections: one of the motives being explored by the Prosecutor's Office for the attack against the host of Report.

Varriale claims that as early as June 2024, Lavitola had spoken to him about a plan to launch a journalist into politics capable of "commanding the judiciary."

A name of weight in the journalistic panorama who also had a strong influence on the magistrates.

"I thought he was talking about Roberto Saviano," says Varriale, who, in light of recent events, is certain it was Sigfrido Ranucci. Valter Lavitola, who was at the height of the heat at the VIP tables at Cefalù Bistrò at the time, described the aspiring politician, the "rising star," as someone who "commanded the judges" and who would be his springboard for a return to Palazzo Chigi.

“Lavitola, a very powerful man, knows Putin and several foreign presidents.”

Varriale defines Lavitola as a 'very powerful man, he knew Putin, several foreign presidents, Berlusconi did what he advised him'.

There's also no shortage of details about their mutual friendship, which may have fallen out of favor partly because of Lavitola's requests for money. Varriale speaks of loans "between 20 and 30 euros over the years, guaranteed by checks carried by a Peruvian."

Gomez Clesio Tavares's latest loan and threatening attitude towards his lawyer

Needless to say, the Neapolitan lawyer claims he never received the money back. Indeed, the demands for money became so insistent that, on one occasion, he allegedly sent Lavitola €450 via Cameroonian bodyguard Clesio Tavares, a figure Varriale describes as Lavitola's "factotum" and a "criminal" used to threaten people.

Varriale recounts a visit from Tavares to his office in Naples: "He knocked violently, I told him I'd confronted the Camorra, they'd held a gun to my forehead, but he didn't scare me. Then I wrote him a check, I think for €450."

On Ranucci Varriale, Varriale says he recently posted a Facebook comment under the post of magistrate Luigi Bobbio, a judge in Nocera Inferiore, giving his version of events: "Valter wanted to involve me in the project. In June 2024, I advised him against it. He argued over a trivial matter and sent a gorilla to threaten me. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's arrest."

Lucio Varriale's story is likely exaggerated by the media coverage of the Lavitola-Ranucci affair. But the political element could be of interest to prosecutor Edoardo De Santis, who is seeking confirmation of a motive that, as Lavitola confessed, doesn't stand up to the shock of the details emerging from the investigation.

Roman magistrates need to understand the purpose of an attack that could not have been plotted by fixer Lavitola, through Gomez Clesio Tavares, simply for a 'good cause' or to 'increase the journalist's security detail'.

The alleged perpetrators, Pellegrino D'Avino and his partner Marika De Filippi, along with D'Avino's father, Antonio Passariello, are clarifying the 'material' aspects of the attack today. They will be questioned by magistrates to define the terms of the warrant received from Gomez Clesio Tavares for the attack of October 16th.