This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/378313-le-pen-chief-investigation/
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Le Pen's chief of staff under formal investigation in EU ‘fake jobs’ probe – judicial source | Le Pen's chief of staff under formal investigation in EU ‘fake jobs’ probe – judicial source |
(35 minutes later) | |
The chief of staff of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was put under formal investigation in a probe into the alleged misuse of EU money, a judicial source told Reuters. | The chief of staff of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was put under formal investigation in a probe into the alleged misuse of EU money, a judicial source told Reuters. |
Earlier Wednesday, Le Pen’s chief of staff, Catherine Griset, and bodyguard, Thierry Legier, were detained for interrogation in the case. | Earlier Wednesday, Le Pen’s chief of staff, Catherine Griset, and bodyguard, Thierry Legier, were detained for interrogation in the case. |
Griset and Legier were suspected of being fictitiously employed at the European Parliament as parliamentary assistants, a source familiar with the case told AFP. | Griset and Legier were suspected of being fictitiously employed at the European Parliament as parliamentary assistants, a source familiar with the case told AFP. |
Prior to the detentions, Le Pen slammed the case as a “political plot” against her, stressing that the voters would never fall for it. | Prior to the detentions, Le Pen slammed the case as a “political plot” against her, stressing that the voters would never fall for it. |
“The French can tell the difference between genuine scandals and political dirty tricks,” the candidate was cited as saying by Reuters. | “The French can tell the difference between genuine scandals and political dirty tricks,” the candidate was cited as saying by Reuters. |
Le Pen’s lawyer Marcel Ceccaldi also labeled the probe a “manipulation,” which was aimed at destabilizing her campaign ahead of the vote. | Le Pen’s lawyer Marcel Ceccaldi also labeled the probe a “manipulation,” which was aimed at destabilizing her campaign ahead of the vote. |
The National Front’s headquarters were raided by police Monday when Le Pen was on a trip abroad as part of the same investigation. | The National Front’s headquarters were raided by police Monday when Le Pen was on a trip abroad as part of the same investigation. |
Earlier, the European Parliament ordered Le Pen to pay back a total of 336,146 euros ($353,000) to compensate for improper payments. | |
However, she refused to return the funds, appealing the decision and saying that the jobs of her staff were legitimate. |