J’ACCUSE

French Ex-President Sarkozy in Custody Over Gaddafi Donation Claims

Faces questions over taking illicit cash from Libya.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in police custody Tuesday morning, facing questions surrounding allegations that he benefited from Libyan funding during his 2007 election campaign. Since 2013, French authorities have been investigating allegations that Sarkozy took illicit cash from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was captured and killed during the Libyan civil war in 2011. Sarkozy, who served as French president from 2007 to 2012, has strongly denied receiving any illicit donations and previously described the Libyan allegations as “grotesque.” The allegations came from a French-Lebanese businessman and have been backed by former officials from the ousted Gaddafi regime. Sarkozy has already been ordered to stand trial regarding unrelated allegations about the financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign, when he was defeated by Francois Hollande.