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I believe Sarkozy (and other pols named in the Clearstream lists) is "partie civile" (this doesn't, afaik, have an equivalent in British or American law, but it means he associates himself with the action of the public prosecutor) and this gives him and his counsel the right to communication of the results of the investigation as it develops. Does this mean photocopies of the witness statements, for example? I'm not sure.

Also, I'm not sure it's entirely in Sarko's interest to stoke up the fires right now. He might get burned along with the intended victims...

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun May 14th, 2006 at 03:41:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
And Rondot, who was supposed to be interrogated again by the judges this week, now is asking for the "témoin assisté" statute (some kind of "investigated witness" statute, which allows him to get access to the judicial file, creates some formal rights during interrogations, but does not mean that he is suspected of anything). That might be a delaying tactic, or it may be a recognition that there are hopeless contradictions in what he's been saying.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun May 14th, 2006 at 05:05:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
He may have been behind the documents passed on to Le Monde, but he certainly has to worry about getting caught in the whole thing. You do note some backpedalling on his side in recent days.

But then again, let's not forget this was all started by the vicious wars in the armaments world - the nasty fights between the Matra-Lagardère (now part owner of EADS) and Thomson (now Thales), and the in-fighting inside EADS for the top job. A number of people involved in that may have the goods and the motivation (revenge, etc...) to get them out, via Le Monde or other outlets.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun May 14th, 2006 at 05:10:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
My feeling about it is that the original use of the Clearstream listings (passed on to Judge van Ruymbeke, we now know, after negotiation with J-L Gergorin) was part of the internal EADS battle. But that it may have appeared to Villepin and Chirac that the listings could be used obliquely, ie to launch an investigative smear against Sarkozy. Hence the order -- under the direct authority of the President -- to Rondot to carry out a secret enquiry.

What matters today is events from that order on, because that was the moment V&C jumped up to their necks into this business.

(Which doesn't rule out that Chirac may also have been party to the original EADS shenanigans).

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun May 14th, 2006 at 07:52:51 AM EST
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