Intoxication on Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière: Trial Requested Against Jean-Christophe Lagarde for Organized Crime Fraud

A trial for organized crime fraud has been requested against Jean-Christophe Lagarde, the former leader of the UDI party, along with his former driver and an ex-police officer. The group is accused of orchestrating the dissemination of false information targeting Raquel Garrido, a La France Insoumise (LFI) rival who competed against Lagarde in the 2022 legislative elections.

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participated, according to their own but complementary roles, in an overall fraudulent operation.

The accusations stem from an article published by the weekly magazine Le Point after the second round of the legislative elections. Journalist Aziz Zemouri alleged, without basis, that Raquel Garrido and her husband Alexis Corbière were exploiting an undocumented domestic worker. Following this, a judicial investigation was opened in September 2022. Both the couple and Zemouri, who left Le Point after the affair and apologized, were involved.

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at the origin of the fictitious scenario, by "fabricating" WhatsApp exchanges, screenshots, etc.

In April 2026, the prosecution concluded that Lagarde, his former driver, and the ex-police officer had "participated, according to their own but complementary roles, in an overall fraudulent operation." The former driver is specifically accused of originating the fictitious scenario by fabricating WhatsApp exchanges and screenshots. The prosecution is also seeking a trial for forgery, use of forged documents, and identity theft against him.

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This case absolutely does not demonstrate any intention or responsibility of Mr. Lagarde.

Lagarde's defense attorney, Gérard Zbili, stated that the case does not demonstrate any intention or responsibility on the part of his client. The prosecution, however, points to a "coherent set of converging evidence" implicating Lagarde, with the driver claiming he was under "constant pressure" to find compromising information on political opponents, although Lagarde never explicitly ordered a fake case. The public prosecutor also accuses an former police officer, now a media commentator, of acting as an "active and decisive intermediary" between Lagarde and the journalist.

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an active and decisive intermediary between Mr. Lagarde and the journalist.