Villepin: “You’ll never get there if you run that way“. Sarkozy: “You’ll be surprised“
Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin is under formal investigation – a first step to possible criminal charges – over a smear campaign targeting President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Villepin was questioned by two judges probing the so-called Clearstream affair, in which Sarkozy’s name was wrongly linked in 2004 to an illegal bank account in Luxembourg.
The judges placed him under investigation for “complicity to make false accusations“, as a result of new evidence that suggests he may have actively encouraged the leaking of false information against Sarkozy.
The case against him also includes “receiving stolen goods, breach of trust and complicity to use forged documents.”
Villepin, whose office and home were searched by the judges earlier this month, denies breaking the law.
If found guilty, the only way for him to escape prison is a presidential pardon. Fat chance!
