French Senator Laurent Duplomb is under investigation for possible misuse of public funds, according to an investigative report by Mediacités, a French media organization. The probe was initiated by the prosecutor's office in Clermont-Ferrand after media revelations in May 2025. Duplomb, a former member of the FNSEA (a major agricultural organization in France), is suspected of orchestrating a campaign to boost membership in the center-right political party Les Républicains (LR) in Haute-Loire, his home region, to support Laurent Wauquiez in his election campaign against Bruno Retailleau. The report noted a dramatic increase in LR members in Haute-Loire, rising from 250 to over 2,000 in a short time. Duplomb’s parliamentary assistant reportedly contacted local mayors by phone and email, urging them to join LR and vote for Wauquiez. According to French law, using a parliamentary assistant for internal party activities during work hours could be considered misappropriation of public funds, as it involves using public resources for private political purposes. When contacted during the time of the article’s publication in 2025, Duplomb claimed that his assistant conducted the campaign during her personal time, using her own phone and email, and taking unpaid leave as the law permits. However, Mediacités collected testimonies suggesting that the assistant represented herself as Duplomb’s official assistant and sent emails from the senator’s official email address. This discrepancy raises questions about whether the campaign was conducted under the guise of official duties, potentially violating the law. The case highlights the fine line between legitimate political activity and misuse of public resources. While Duplomb asserts that the actions were personal and legal, the investigation continues to examine whether public funds or resources were improperly used in the campaign to support Wauquiez’s political bid.