Preliminary charges filed against Chirac

AP ^ | Nov 21 2007 | PIERRE-ANTOINE SOUCHARD

[Aristotelian]

PARIS - Alleged wrongdoing in Jacques Chirac's past came back Wednesday to trouble his retirement, when a judge took the unprecedented step of filing preliminary embezzlement charges against the former two-term president of France.

Chirac insisted he had committed no wrongdoing. Political opinion was divided on whether the judge had scored a victory for French justice or merely underscored its impotence — because only since he left office in May have judges been able to pursue Chirac.

Since he lost his presidential immunity, Chirac has now been questioned by two different judges looking into suspected misuse of public money and other alleged wrongdoing in his 18-year tenure as mayor of Paris, which served as one of his springboards for the presidency in 1995.

The judge that summoned him to her office Wednesday, Xaviere Simeoni, is investigating whether people in Chirac's circle were given sham jobs as advisers, paid by Paris City Hall even though they weren't working for it.

The respected daily Le Monde said Chirac specifically is suspected, as Paris mayor, of having hired a chauffeur in 1990 who later told investigators that he in fact had worked for a senator in Chirac's political party.

Chirac was mayor of Paris from 1977-95 and president of France from 1995 until May 16 this year.

[Aristotelian]

Corruption rumors have circulated around Chirac for ages. While president, he was able to nix any investigation or indictment.

[Jaysun]

I’ve seen his face. He’s guilty.

[sam_paine]

Chirac’s lawyer advising him: “You have a great opportunity now to shut up.”

[K-oneTexas]

... Chirac insisted he had committed no wrongdoing ...

Don't they all? I guess a politician can do no wrong.

/src

[Anti-Bubba182]

I really hope this catches up with him.

[RetiredArmy]

Jockieshorts is just like the Klintons and ALL MARXISTS DIMOCRATS.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

investigating whether people in Chirac's circle were given sham jobs as advisers, paid by Paris City Hall even though they weren't working for it.

Bill and Hillary hate competition.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Wonder what his cut from the Iraq Oil for Food UN scam was to pay him to veto UN Resolutions.

[magellan]

"investigating whether people in Chirac's circle were given sham jobs as advisers, paid by Paris City Hall even though they weren't working for it."

Since when is getting paid for not working against the law in France?

[do the dhue]

Chirac insisted he had committed no wrongdoing.

Not only is he an embezzler, he is a liar too.

[Momaw Nadon]

[RobinOfKingston]

I wonder if this means that a French judge might someday indict Willard’s ... person.

[AndyJackson]

A corrupt French mayor of Paris. Who would have known?

[keat]

Chirac, the Willie Brown of French politics.

[adingdangdoo]

Chirac: “I did not write checks with that woman...”

[Sam Clements]

I won’t be satisfied about the merits of this indictment until his alleged crimes can be analyzed and evaluated under Scottish law.

[steveo]

soccer blew!

[TigerLikesRooster]

House cleaning must have started.

[popdonnelly]

Probably got bribed by Total/Elf/Fina.

[Revolting cat!]

Only in America is the President a Pope, infallible, untouchable!