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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Former French PM Accused In Sarko Scandal

De Villepin will stand trial on false money- laundering accusation

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(Newser) – Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin will face trial for his role in an alleged smear campaign against Nicolas Sarkozy, who outmaneuvered him for the presidency. The "Clearstream Affair" scandal dates to 2004, when an anonymous source sent a judge a list of politicians, including Sarkozy, said to be laundering bribes through a Luxembourg bank. But the list turned out to be bogus and a brouhaha erupted, the Guardian writes.

Investigators believe that de Villepin may have prodded an informant to turn over the fake documents; if convicted, he could face 5 years in jail. He has insisted he is innocent, and one ally of the former PM said that he was being treated like a "Soviet dissident." Other politicians have said that Sarkozy appears to be settling a score with de Villepin, who detested him when the two served together as ministers of Jacques Chirac.

Nicolas Sarkozy, left, shakes hand with Dominique de Villepin after their meeting at the Hotel Matignon, the office of the prime minister in Paris, Tuesday, April 24, 2007.
Nicolas Sarkozy, left, shakes hand with Dominique de Villepin after their meeting at the Hotel Matignon, the office of the prime minister in Paris, Tuesday, April 24, 2007.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Jacques Chirac, right, speaks with Dominique de Villepin prior to a lunch at the Elysee Palace, following Chirac's final weekly cabinet meeting, in Paris, Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
Jacques Chirac, right, speaks with Dominique de Villepin prior to a lunch at the Elysee Palace, following Chirac's final weekly cabinet meeting, in Paris, Wednesday, May 9, 2007.   (AP Photo/Benoit Tessier, Pool)
Dominique de Villepin will stand trial for his involvement in the Clearstream affair. He faces 5 years in jail if convicted.
Dominique de Villepin will stand trial for his involvement in the Clearstream affair. He faces 5 years in jail if convicted.   (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
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petepenguin
Nov 22, 08 12:28 AM CST
Ahhh,the french......fry them Reply
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