Paris Judicial Chief Warns of Potential U.S. Interference in Marine Le Pen Appeal Trial

Peimane Ghaleh-Marzban, the president of the Paris judicial court, has sounded a strong warning against any potential interference by the United States in the upcoming appeal trial of Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National (RN), due to begin January 13, 2026. This warning comes amid reports that the Trump administration was contemplating sanctions against the French judges involved in Le Pen's case, which centers on allegations of misappropriation of European Parliament funds.

Le Pen, along with her party and eleven other defendants, was convicted in March 2025 and sentenced to four years in prison—two years firm—a €100,000 fine, and five years of ineligibility. The case has drawn significant attention not only for its political implications but also for its potential impact on judicial independence in France.

Ghaleh-Marzban emphasized that any such American actions would constitute an "unacceptable and intolerable interference" in France's internal judicial affairs. He urged public condemnation should sanctions against judges be imposed. He highlighted the case of Nicolas Guillou, a French judge at the International Criminal Court who has been under U.S. sanctions since August, as a troubling precedent. Guillou's sanctions relate to his role in issuing a European arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Marine Le Pen's legal troubles have drawn parallels from Donald Trump, who in March likened her four-year prison sentence to his own legal battles. The president of the Paris court's remarks underscore the heightened tensions as the appeal trial approaches, reflecting concerns about sovereignty and foreign interference in French judiciary processes.