PARIS — (AP) The wife of French presidential candidate Francois Fillon is facing preliminary charges over well-paid parliamentary jobs that investigators suspect she never performed.
Fillon himself had already been charged in the case, which has deeply damaged the conservative candidate’s chances for the two-round election April 23 and May 7. He is suspected of embezzlement and other charges.
Investigating judges in Paris handed Penelope Fillon preliminary charges on Tuesday.
A justice official said she was charged with “misuse of public funds”, “receiving money from a misuse of company assets” and “receiving money from a fraud”. The official, speaking anonymously, was not allowed to disclose details on the ongoing investigation.
The Fillons have denied wrongdoing. Francois Fillon, once the front-runner, calls the investigation a smear campaign to torpedo his presidential campaign.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (photo: AP)
