France’s Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, has been found not guilty of abusing his power to retaliate against his former opponents in 2020, according to a recent ruling by the France’s Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR).
Reports detail how Dupond-Moretti, appointed as justice minister by President Emmanuel Macron in 2020, had been accused of illegally instituting investigations against magistrates with whom he had shared conflicts during his tenure as a lawyer.
As a result, the minister was charged with “illegal taking of interest.” However, Dominique Pauthe, the President of the CJR,
emphasized that even though the material element of the crime was evident, prosecutors could not establish that Dupond-Moretti had intended to commit the crime, leading to his acquittal.
Following the verdict, Dupond-Moretti
expressed his eagerness to leave this chapter behind and resume his duties. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also
confirmed that Dupond-Moretti would be continuing his responsibilities within the government.
The CJR is a unique judicial body in France, specifically established for dealing with ministerial misconduct cases. It exclusively manages matters concerning current and former government ministers in relation to offences committed during their official duties.