Rassemblement National sues Le Monde over Trappes attack reporting

The Rassemblement National (RN) political party has announced it is suing the French newspaper Le Monde for defamation. The legal action follows an article published by the daily regarding the suspect, Kevin T., involved in a racist attack in Trappes that resulted in one death and five injuries.

Le Monde initially reported, citing an anonymous source close to the investigation, that political leaflets from the RN were discovered in the suspect's vehicle. However, the national anti-terrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen, clarified that no political party leaflets were found in the vehicle. Le Monde subsequently issued a correction, noting that the documents in question were not strictly leaflets and were discovered in a different location.

Bruno Bilde, the RN vice-president in charge of legal affairs, characterized the reporting as a ‘militant operation’ intended to smear the party. The RN has accused the media and political classes of spreading falsehoods for electoral purposes.