“All this gossip is shameful. But I swear that those who will write something incorrect or that will imply something else, will be dragged into court”. According to the reconstruction of “Il Giornale”, confirmed by Gasparri, in 1996 the former undersecretary of the Home Office “had been invited to the Polo della Libertà Club, in the sports area of Acqua Cetosa, which at that time, and still today, was packed with men and women on the market with thong panties and fishnet stockings”.

Gasparri’s wife arrived at the appointment by car, with Italo Bocchino because her husband, who was late, busy with his party, said that he would have arrived later. “Once at the table Gasparri waved the episode – continued the newspaper – maybe to justify himself for the fact that he was late: “Hey, but do you know that the carabinieri stopped me near here? If somebody had gone by and saw me, they would have thought I went with transsexuals!”. However Gasparri was late because, a couple of minutes earlier, a carabinieri patrol was curious about a Fiat Punto in the surrounding area which was cruising around.

Gasparri told them who he was and explained that he was going up and down the avenue because he did not know the exact location of the Polo della Libertà Club. In fact there was no light and he could not find the entrance. Once explained the misunderstanding, Gasparri found the right way and arrived at his destination.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute