The investigation centers on threats directed at the judge who sentenced the presidential hopeful.
French authorities have initiated a probe into threats made against the judge who presided over the case in which Marine Le Pen, a right-wing presidential hopeful, was found guilty and given a prison sentence along with a ban from holding public office, according to AFP sources.
Le Pen, the former leader of the National Rally (RN), received a sentence on Monday of four years imprisonment – two years suspended and two years under electronic monitoring, along with a significant fine and a five-year prohibition from holding public office.
The court determined she was guilty of misusing European Parliament funds, allegedly diverting them from their intended purpose to support party activities in France. The verdict prevents her from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen maintains her innocence and intends to appeal the decision.
The conviction sparked outrage among her supporters, with many expressing their displeasure online. French media reports that Judge Benedicte de Perthuis, who oversaw the case in Paris, received “a large number of messages containing clearly expressed personal threats.” The judge was quickly placed under police protection, with patrols reportedly stationed outside her residence.
AFP reported on Tuesday that the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the threats, citing a source familiar with the matter. The investigation has been assigned to the Brigade for Repression of Crimes Against the Person, a specialized French police unit responsible for investigating serious offenses.
This marks the second investigation into threats related to Le Pen’s trial. An earlier case, opened in January, concerned death threats posted on the far-right website Riposte Laique. These posts, which have since been removed, targeted Judge de Perthuis and prosecutors Louise Neyton and Nicolas Barret.
Le Pen, a critic of NATO’s presence in Europe and the EU’s sanctions against Russia, has been a presidential candidate three times, finishing as runner-up in both 2017 and 2022. Her party currently controls the most seats in the National Assembly, and her approval rating is more than ten points higher than that of her closest potential rival in the presidential race, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, according to a recent Ifop poll.
She asserts that her conviction was politically motivated and has vowed to challenge it. The Paris Court of Appeal has stated that it anticipates ruling on Le Pen’s case by the summer of 2026, which could potentially allow her to participate in the 2027 election if the verdict is overturned.
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