Le Pen to run for president despite embezzlement conviction
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced she will run in next year's presidential election, even though she was sentenced the same day to house arrest with an ankle monitor for embezzling EU funds.
The Paris Court of Appeals on Tuesday found French far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament. She was sentenced to one year of house arrest with an ankle monitor. Le Pen said she would appeal the verdict to a higher court, which she claimed would lift the obligation to wear the bracelet.
As recently as last week, Le Pen had stated she would not run for president if required to wear an ankle monitor. However, she confirmed her candidacy for the upcoming election. "The French people will have the final say," Le Pen said on French news channel TF1, adding: "We are innocent."
