Le Pen charged in EU funds’ misuse

PARIS — French farright leader Marine Le Pen was charged Friday with allegedly misusing European Parliament funds to pay two parliamentary aides who also work at her National Front party headquarters. Her lawyer said she denies the charges and will fight to get the investigation suspended.

Investigators suspect that some National Front lawmakers used legislative aides for the party’s political activities while they were on the European Parliament payroll. Le Pen is president of the far-right National Front.

The French prosecutor’s office said Le Pen was summoned and handed preliminary charges of breach of trust and complicity in breach of trust concerning two parliamentary aides when she served at the European Parliament.

Le Pen is suspected of using parliamentary funds to pay Catherine Griset from 2009 to 2016 and bodyguard Thierry Legier from 2014 to 2016 for working as aides in Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament, even though they also have roles in the National Front. Griset was charged in February for allegedly receiving money through a breach of trust.