the defense pleads for acquittal, decision expected on November 29

The defense of Eric Dupond-Moretti pleaded, Thursday, November 16, for his release at the end of his unprecedented trial before the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), reminding the judges ” the challenge “ of their decision: a conviction, even ” the lowest “, “would be enough” leading to the resignation of the Minister of Justice. The CJR will deliver its decision on November 29 at 3 p.m.

Before suspending the hearing, the court gave Mr. Dupond-Moretti the floor one last time. ” I have nothing to add “he declared on the stand.

On Wednesday, the prosecution requested a one-year suspended prison sentence against him, saying “belief” that the Minister of Justice was guilty of the offense of “illegal taking of interests”. The minister is suspected of having used his functions to settle scores with magistrates whom he had criticized when he was a lawyer, which he strongly contests.

These proceedings against the Keeper of the Seals are “unfair”said his lawyer, M^e Jacqueline Laffont, for whom Mr. Dupond-Moretti is not “guilty of nothing”. “I have the feeling that when the judicial institution feels attacked, it is capable of injustice”she continued, denouncing the ” battle “ of certain magistrates who would never have accepted his appointment to the Ministry of Justice in July 2020, to push him to ” resign “.

No “desire for revenge”

The prosecution claimed on Wednesday that Mr. Dupond-Moretti had ignored the “alerts”, “orange, red indicators”And “crossed a line he should never have crossed” : open, as minister, administrative investigations targeting four magistrates whom he had criticized when he was a lawyer.

The first case concerns three magistrates from the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) who had Mr. Dupond-Moretti’s telephone bills examined when he was a lawyer in the so-called “Bismuth” corruption case, linked to former President Nicolas Sarkozy – “barbouze methods”he estimated, shortly before his appointment at Place Vendôme.

The second case concerns a former investigating judge, to whom he had attributed methods of “cowboy” and against whom he had filed a complaint on behalf of a client for violation of the confidentiality of the investigation.

Also listen Trial of Eric Dupond-Moretti: what the Minister of Justice is accused of

“The final battle” of this ” war “ is being held at this hearing, she told the three professional magistrates and twelve parliamentary judges of the CJR. ” The challenge “ of the decision they must make, she reminded them, is a possible resignation of the minister. Now, M^e Laffont assures: “The lowest, most ridiculous sentence would suffice for that. » And to add: “It’s not just about a man’s honor, it’s about the balance of power. »

“What did Eric Dupond-Moretti do? »raged his other lawyer, M^e Rémi Lorrain, affirming once again that the minister had only followed the “recommendations” of his services on procedures launched by his predecessor. ” From beginning to end “, he “is absent from the decision-making process”n / A “never given instructions”. Having become a minister, he “had nothing to shake,” of these affairs, “he didn’t take revenge!” »protested M^e Lorraine.

Sitting at his table in the courtroom, Mr. Dupond-Moretti listened, mimicking indignation or amazement at the same time as his lawyer pleaded. “Eric Dupond-Moretti’s thesis of revenge does not hold up for a second”repeated M^e Lorrain, ensuring that ” person “among those who worked alongside him at the ministry, had no “heard of some desire for revenge”.