French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is investigated over alleged illicit financing in 2022 vote
Associated PressJUL 12 2024
Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen, alongside more than 20 members of her National Rally (RN) party, began trial Monday over allegations of creating "fake jobs" to illegally take EU Parliament funds and use it for party operations.
Prosecutors allege that between 2004 and 2016, RN hired several parliamentary assistants — who are paid with EU funds — and that the staff only worked for the party, thus committing misappropriation of funds laws.
Among the other people indicted include former party treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just, as well as former RN members of the European Parliament, such as Marine's father, Jean-Marie, 96, who's not appearing in court for health reasons.
Le Pen and her far-right party members spent years cheating Europe's parliamentary stystem out of millions of dollars. After years of investigation, authorities have released incriminating documents and testimony, most notably correspondance between party leaders regarding how to illegally save money. In the face of mounting evidence, Le Pen faces years of prison and heafty fines.
The only reason Le Pen is being prosecuted is to keep her and her popular views on immigration away from the halls of power. As is the case with Donald Trump in America, France's left-wing establishment is using the justice system to charge its political opponent on a technicality to keep her out of office. If anyone is committing a crime, it's the government using the court system as a political tool.