Deputy investigated for misuse of funds

A deputy from the National Rally (RN) is under investigation for alleged misuse of public funds following reports by the satirical newspaper Le Canard enchaîné. José Beaurain, who represents the fourth constituency of the Aisne, is being looked into for possible embezzlement, according to the prosecutor's office in Laon.

Investigation details and legal stance

The prosecutor's office confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, that the case has been assigned to the gendarmerie group of the Aisne. It emphasized that the person under investigation is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The ongoing probe is examining whether Beaurain misused his public allowance.

Alleged misuse of allowance

According to an article published by Le Canard enchaîné in late August, Beaurain allegedly used part of his 15,000 euro allowance—as a visually impaired deputy he receives more than other deputies—to pay bonuses to his staff. Some of these payments were reportedly returned to him in cash, which is not standard practice.

Alleged financial arrangement with acquaintance

The report also claimed that Beaurain hired and paid double an acquaintance, who then transferred half of their income to his brother. These actions, if true, could constitute financial misconduct and potentially fraud.

Legal response and denial

Beaurain strongly denied the allegations and informed AFP that he had filed a lawsuit against the three former colleagues he claims were behind the report. He accused them of trying to harm him for two years through various means, including defamation and abuse of trust.

Ethics alert and political background

The ethics officer of the Assembly was alerted in August, as stated by the entourage of President Yaël Braun-Pivet. While the specific reasons for the alert were not detailed, it highlights the seriousness of the allegations. Beaurain, elected in 2022 as the first visually impaired deputy of the Fifth Republic, was re-elected in 2024.