French police launched an investigation into death threats against a judge and two prosecutors involved in the corruption trial of National Rally (RN) party leader Marine Le Pen, according to Reuters.
If found guilty, Le Pen could be barred from running in the April 2027 presidential election. She, her party and about two dozen party officials are accused of diverting European funds to cover staff salaries in France.
Prosecutors Louise Neyton and Nicolas Barret are seeking a five-year ban on Le Pen from holding public office if she is found guilty. Such a ban would not be subject to appeal.
Police launched an investigation after Neyton, Barret and judge Bénédicte de Perthuis received death threats from people writing in the comments section of the Riposte Laïque website, according to police.
Last November, after demanding a five-year ban for Le Pen, the email addresses of the two prosecutors were leaked in comments stating that they would “be held accountable to the people.”
Online threats are being investigated by Paris’ Brigade for the Repression of Crime against Persons (BRDP). The Paris Police Prefecture has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Riposte Laïque had around 350,000 page views in December last year, according to an independent assessment. Founded in 2007, the site claims it “brings together patriots from the left and the right who do not accept the Islamisation of their country.”
