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French Court Clears Justice Minister of Abuse of Power French Court Clears Justice Minister of Abuse of Power
(2 days later)
The government of President Emmanuel Macron of France dodged a blow on Wednesday when a special court ruled that the justice minister was not guilty of using his position to settle scores.The government of President Emmanuel Macron of France dodged a blow on Wednesday when a special court ruled that the justice minister was not guilty of using his position to settle scores.
The minister, Éric Dupond-Moretti, a former star criminal defense lawyer who often sparred with prosecutors and judges, was charged with using his new position in 2020 as a weapon to order investigations into four magistrates whom he had recently clashed with.The minister, Éric Dupond-Moretti, a former star criminal defense lawyer who often sparred with prosecutors and judges, was charged with using his new position in 2020 as a weapon to order investigations into four magistrates whom he had recently clashed with.
The court ruled that while Mr. Dupond-Moretti had a conflict of interest in his role as justice minister, he had not intended to abuse his power. The minister had never expressed “animosity, contempt or a desire for revenge” toward the four magistrates, the president of the court said. He added that Mr. Dupond-Moretti had not been “warned" of the conflict of interest by his staff.The court ruled that while Mr. Dupond-Moretti had a conflict of interest in his role as justice minister, he had not intended to abuse his power. The minister had never expressed “animosity, contempt or a desire for revenge” toward the four magistrates, the president of the court said. He added that Mr. Dupond-Moretti had not been “warned" of the conflict of interest by his staff.
The case was the first in which a sitting French minister had to face trial before a special court for alleged crimes connected to the role’s official duties. Mr. Dupond-Moretti continued in his role as justice minister throughout the 10-day trial.The case was the first in which a sitting French minister had to face trial before a special court for alleged crimes connected to the role’s official duties. Mr. Dupond-Moretti continued in his role as justice minister throughout the 10-day trial.
From the start, he claimed the case was a malicious attempt to humiliate and push him to resign.
He stood alone at a glass lectern in the center of a gilded room in the century-old Paris court building to receive the verdict on Wednesday. Afterward, he swept past the throngs of reporters clogging the hall outside, uncharacteristically leaving others to speak for him.
“For all those years, he was branded and presented as guilty before any trial,” one of Mr. Dupond-Moretti’s lawyers, Jacqueline Laffont, said to the bush of outstretched microphones. She added, “Justice has now been delivered.”