In the Paris Court of Appeal's ongoing trial over alleged misuse of European Parliament funds by Front National/Rassemblement National staff, Marine Le Pen was questioned on January 20-21, 2026, rejecting claims of a 'system' of embezzlement and highlighting the European Parliament's prior silence on assistants' roles.
The appeal trial, which opened on January 13, 2026, and is set to continue until mid-February, saw Marine Le Pen, the Rassemblement National leader and MEP from 2004-2016, take the stand on Tuesday afternoon, January 20, through Wednesday evening. Convicted in first instance to five years' ineligibility (currently enforced), she risks her 2027 presidential bid amid leading polls.
Le Pen contested the prosecution's 'system' narrative, stating it implies 'manipulation.' She insisted cases be examined individually, noting: 'Over this ten-year period, the European Parliament never advised or reproached us for having assistants who manifestly worked with several deputies.' This follows her opening-day remarks admitting possible unintentional fault while blaming parliamentary oversight.
Earlier Tuesday, Julien Odoul, MP for Yonne and sentenced to eight months' suspended prison plus one year ineligibility, testified. Hired as an assistant to MEP Mylène Troszczynski in 2014, he had minimal contact with her (12 communications in 1.5 years), instead working at party HQ and later as Le Pen's 'special advisor.'
Separately, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) flagged potential U.S. interference. Secretary general Magali Lafourcade met State Department diplomats Samuel D. Samson and Christopher J. Anderson on May 28, 2025, who allegedly sought evidence portraying the trial as politically motivated to block Le Pen's candidacy. She alerted the Foreign Ministry, which views it gravely.
