Ex-minister seeks to justify cash payments in Libyan election funding affair
Former minister and Member of Parliament Éric Woerth has been questioned by judges investigating claims that Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential election campaign was funded by the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Woerth, who was treasurer of Sarkozy's campaign, sought to play down his role in handling envelopes stuffed full of cash at the election campaign headquarters. But according to a transcript of his evidence, seen by Mediapart, Woerth's explanations weakened his own defence. Fabrice Arfi and Karl Laske report
FormerFormer minister Éric Woerth, who is today chairman of the influential finance committee at the National Assembly, sought to play down his role in the scandal involving Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign when questioned by judges investigating the affair. During the questioning on May 29th, 2018, Woerth, who was treasurer of that campaign, admitted he had handled anonymous cash donations in envelopes at the campaign headquarter while playing down the sums involved. But according to a transcript of the evidence seen by Mediapart, the former minister's explanations about the cash were often confused and have in reality weakened his own defence.
