Paris, April 9, 2025 — French authorities on Tuesday detained a 76-year-old man in connection with a violent online threat targeting the lead judge who presided over the high-profile trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, prosecutors confirmed.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, is accused of posting a photograph of a guillotine alongside the caption “What this bitch deserves” on his X (formerly Twitter) account, in reference to Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis.
De Perthuis headed the judicial panel that convicted Le Pen last week in a corruption case that has sent shockwaves through France’s political establishment.
The 56-year-old leader of the National Rally (RN) party was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme that saw European Parliament funds used to pay party employees under the guise of parliamentary assistants.
As part of her sentence, Le Pen received a partly suspended prison term, a €100,000 fine, and an immediate five-year ban from running for public office — a ruling that could effectively end her presidential ambitions in 2027.
Since the verdict, judges involved in the trial have faced mounting threats. Police have increased security around de Perthuis’ home, with regular patrols and enhanced surveillance measures now in place.
French prosecutors are investigating multiple threats made online and through far-right platforms. Earlier this year, another probe was launched into threats made against one judge and two prosecutors involved in the trial proceedings.
French President Emmanuel Macron has weighed in, urging respect for the country’s judicial independence. In a recent meeting with government officials, Macron reiterated the importance of protecting judges, emphasizing that they operate independently and must be shielded from intimidation.
The conviction has deeply angered Le Pen’s supporters, many of whom see the court’s decision as politically motivated. At a National Rally event in Paris on Sunday, Le Pen railed against what she described as a “witch hunt” targeting the far right.
Her protégé and party president, 29-year-old Jordan Bardella, echoed her sentiments, decrying what he called “the tyranny of judges,” though he attempted to clarify that not all members of the judiciary were being criticized.
Former justice minister Nicole Belloubet condemned such rhetoric, calling it “a frontal attack on the judiciary.” In a sharply worded opinion piece published Tuesday in Le Monde, Belloubet referenced 19th-century French author Honoré de Balzac, stating that “to distrust the judiciary marks the beginning of the end of society.”
She further warned that statements like Bardella’s undermine the rule of law and threaten the legitimacy of legal institutions. “Such public remarks are as inaccurate as they are unacceptable,” she wrote.
The Paris Court of Appeal is expected to review Le Pen’s case in the coming months. Legal experts say there is a possibility that her sentence could be reduced or overturned, potentially allowing her to contest the 2027 presidential election. However, such an outcome remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the online threats continues, with five additional suspects already identified and expected to be questioned.
