French far-right leader Le Pen charged with misuse of funds

PARIS — French farright leader Marine Le Pen was charged Friday with misusing European Parliament funds to pay two parliamentary aides who also work at her National Front headquarters.

Her lawyer said she denies the charges and will fight to get the investigation suspended.

Investigators allege 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 party.

The 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 allegedly working as aides in Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament, even though they also have roles in her far-right National Front party. Griset was charged in February for allegedly receiving money through a breach of trust.

Le Pen is also charged with complicity in breach of trust in connection with her role as president of the National Front from 20142016. That charge could not immediately be clarified.

“It makes no sense,” National Front vice president Florian Philippot, Le Pen’s top lieutenant, said on the BFM-TV station. “She is obviously 24 hours out of 24 both the president of the National Front and a European deputy.”

Le Pen plans to file an urgent demand Monday at the Appeals Court asking that thecharges be annulled, said her lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut. She will also seek a suspension of the investigation.