The so-called “Fadettes” affair is far from bland and smooth.
The lawyers of Patrice Amar, vice-prosecutor at the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), denounced this Saturday "the illegality" of the proceedings against the magistrate before the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM), seized on Friday by the Prime Minister to investigate on possible breaches of its “ethical obligations”.
In a press release sent to AFP, Me Marie Lhéritier and Me François Saint-Pierre indicate having "learned in the press of the decision of the Prime Minister to seize the Superior Council of the Magistracy", and ignore "to this day what are the reproaches of the Prime Minister, not having been notified of his decision which is supposed to specify them ”.
But they add "that they will ensure with determination (before the CSM, editor's note) the defense of Patrice Amar, whose professional qualities and probity are indisputable, while strongly denouncing the illegality of this pursuit".
Jean Castex announced Friday to have seized the CSM for "presumptions of disciplinary faults" concerning the former head of the PNF Eliane Houlette in the so-called "fadettes" case, after having learned of an administrative investigation targeting her and Mr. Amar and a third magistrate, Ulrika-Lovisa Delaunay-Weiss.
Disciplinary measures?
The proceedings concerning the latter have been closed.
On the other hand, Jean Castex noted for Mr. Amar "various elements likely to give rise to serious doubt as to the respect of his ethical obligations".
He therefore asked the CSM to investigate in order, "if necessary, to draw consequences of a disciplinary nature".
The PNF had been implicated for having peeled the detailed telephone records ("fadettes") of tenors of the bar - including Eric Dupond-Moretti - to identify who could have informed former President Nicolas Sarkozy and his lawyer Thierry Herzog that they were bugged.
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Sarkozy and Herzog were sentenced to three years in prison, one of which was firm, for corruption and influence peddling.
The emotion aroused by this case had prompted the former Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet to request a report from the General Inspectorate of Justice (IGJ).
Mr. Dupond-Moretti was angry against "methods of barbouzes" and had filed a complaint for "invasion of privacy", before withdrawing the evening of his appointment as Keeper of the Seals in July.
He moved away from this case in favor of Matignon, in reaction to the indignation of magistrates accusing him of being judge and party.
The Chancellery announced the opening of an administrative investigation in September.
To be continued then.