Journalist Patrick Cohen sent a letter to the parliamentary inquiry commission on public broadcasting to protest against distorted representations of his statements by rapporteur Charles Alloncle. In the letter, he highlights errors and unfounded accusations shared on social media and in a video interview. Cohen expresses regret over these attacks that question his impartiality.
On December 22, Patrick Cohen, editorialist at France Inter, wrote to the members of the parliamentary inquiry commission on public broadcasting. Six days after his hearing, he accuses rapporteur Charles Alloncle, UDR deputy from Hérault, of distorting his statements in posts on X and an interview with the YouTube channel Les Incorrectibles. The letter, revealed by Le Figaro and confirmed to AFP, highlights several inaccuracies.
Cohen first challenges the interpretation of a video published by L’Incorrect, showing him with Socialist Party officials. Alloncle claims a bailiff's report proves no alteration, but the journalist counters that the document does not include the terms mentioned by the deputy.
Regarding the murder of Thomas in Crépol, Alloncle claims Cohen expressed no regret for an editorial downplaying the facts and called the victim's close ones 'neo-Nazis.' Cohen denies this: these far-right militants, identified by police, were not relatives and came to spread violence in Romans-sur-Isère, armed and hooded.
In the Les Incorrectibles interview, Alloncle describes the hearing as 'perfectly lunar' and suggests a plot to discredit Rachida Dati through public airwaves. Cohen points out that this serious accusation was not raised during his hearing and no unfavorable treatment has been shown.
Finally, on the complaint filed against the leaked videos' publication, Alloncle deems it fallacious. Cohen criticizes the rapporteur for interfering in an ongoing judicial process, thus violating the separation of powers and undermining the inquiry.
'I deeply regret having to defend my impartiality and rigor against accusations so devoid of them,' Cohen writes, hoping his responses will be considered.
