Trump responds to Le Pen's conviction and election ban
Photo: Donald Trump, 47th US president (Getty Images)
Donald Trump said that French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's ban from elections, who was tried yesterday in a case concerning the embezzlement of European Parliament funds, was a "very big deal."
"I know all about it and a lot of people thought she wasn’t going to be convicted for anything. She was banned for five years and she was the leading candidate," Trump stated at the White House, adding that "sounds like this country (France - ed.), that sounds very much like this country."
Le Pen found guilty in embezzlement case
Yesterday, a Paris court found Le Pen and eight members of the European Parliament guilty of embezzling European Union (EU) funds. According to the court's decision:
- Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are suspended and two under house arrest;
- The deputy was fined $108,000 and banned from participating in elections for five years.
Additionally, it is worth noting that yesterday, Le Pen received support from the head of the Hungarian government, Viktor Orbán.
