PARIS — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy defended himself Thursday against the “mad allegations” that he accepted millions of euros in illegal campaign funding from the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. “I owe the French people the truth: I never betrayed their trust.”The one-term ex-leader was handed preliminary charges Wednesday in an investigation of his successful 2007 campaign for the French presidency. Investigators are examining allegations that Gadhafi’s regime secretly gave Sarkozy 50 million euros ($62 million) for his 2007 presidential election bid. Takieddine alleged he gave a third suitcase with 1.5 million euros in cash to the aide alone. Takieddine lies,” Sarkozy told the investigating judges, according to Le Figaro.

Source: National Post March 22, 2018 08:30 UTC