US aide proposed funding Le Pen's legal fight, sparking uproar
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A US State Department advisor reportedly proposed using public funds to support far-right French leader Marine Le Pen's legal appeal, igniting controversy over ideological diplomacy and the taxpayer money.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech during the French far-right party national rally near the parliament in Paris, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Politico reported on Friday that a US State Department advisor proposed allocating public funds to assist French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in her legal battle to overturn a recent embezzlement conviction.
According to two State Department officials, Samuel Samson, a political appointee serving in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, advanced the idea following a meeting with senior figures from Le Pen's National Rally party late last month. The officials requested anonymity, citing internal sensitivities and fear of retaliation.
US President Donald Trump and his inner circle have openly criticized the French court's ruling against Le Pen, claiming it was driven by political motives. Le Pen, known for her hardline stance on immigration and the EU, has gained traction over the past decade and was considered the leading candidate for France's 2027 presidential election until her conviction in March.
While the funding recommendation remains under review and no decision has been made, the suggestion has sparked internal controversy. Supporting a politician from a party with historical ties to Nazi collaborators using money meant for democracy promotion and human rights could provoke a diplomatic crisis with Paris and call into question US commitments to democratic values, Politico wrote.
A senior official who reviewed Samson's proposal told Politico, "The claims were flat out false." That official also spoke under condition of anonymity, lacking authorization to speak publicly for the department.
Conviction Fallout
Le Pen's conviction stemmed from charges that her party misused European Parliament funds to pay staff who were not engaged in EU-related duties. The court proceedings featured extensive evidence, and while Le Pen's defense team didn't contest the facts, they argued the case drew an arbitrary line between parliamentary duties and party work.
In a rare move, the French court imposed an immediate five-year ban on Le Pen holding public office, citing the severity of the offense and a high risk of reoffending. Though her appeal is scheduled for 2026, the court's decision bypassed the usual suspension of penalties during the appeal process.
Samson, identified on LinkedIn as a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, is among several young conservatives appointed since Trump resumed office in January. He gained attention earlier this year for an article on the State Department's Substack platform titled "The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe", in which he expressed admiration for natural law and encouraged Europe to "reclaim Western heritage," according to Politico.
Echoing views shared by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Samson took issue with Germany's classification of the far-right Alternative for Germany party as "extremist," and decried what he sees as Europe's infringement on free expression. He also defended countries like Hungary, which critics have accused of democratic backsliding, as "Christian nations" facing unjust criticism.
This proposed intervention aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to bolster ideologically sympathetic governments and movements abroad, even as it soft-pedals on human rights abuses by US allies in regions such as Latin America, Politico wrote.
Read more: Marine Le Pen accuses EU of advancing planned war project in the East
Samson's office, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, was originally tasked with strengthening American security through global support for free expression, civil society, and worker protections. Under Rubio's leadership, the department is expected to undergo sweeping changes, including potential layoffs, pending Supreme Court approval of restructuring plans.
