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François Fillon placed under judicial investigation
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News
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Feb 24, 2017 08:45pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | Nicholas Vinocur |
| News Date | Saturday, February 25, 2017 02:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | PARIS — François Fillon was placed under judicial investigation Friday as part of a payments scandal involving his wife, a move that marks a damaging escalation in legal proceedings against the conservative presidential candidate.
The former French prime minister, who won a conservative primary last November, was previously under preliminary investigation in the so-called “PenelopeGate” scandal, which broke out following reports that he paid his wife nearly €1 million for work in parliament that she is suspected of not carrying out.
The decision to launch more formal proceedings against Fillon raises the stakes of his legal battle and removes any possibility that he will shake off investigators in the immediate future. Suspected of misusing public funds as well as other counts of wrongdoing, Fillon now faces an investigation to be carried out by three investigating magistrates who have the power to place him under formal investigation, an even more serious step.
While Fillon previously said he would drop out of the race if placed under formal investigation, he has since reneged on the pledge, saying he would maintain his candidacy.
Late Friday, Fillon’s lawyers issued a statement rejecting any wrongdoing, arguing that their candidate would be proven innocent, and dismissing the move to open a judicial probe. |
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