French president, first lady sue right-wing US podcaster

WASHINGTON

French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a right-wing podcaster, alleging the conservative influencer engaged in defamation.

The suit, filed in court in the state of Delaware, centers on Candace Owens' claims that that French first lady was born a man and transitioned to a woman under a stolen identity, as well as allegations that the Macrons are related and so are committing incest, and that Macron was chosen to become the French president by the CIA, the US spy agency.

The 219-page complaint seeks a jury trial on 22 counts related to the claims made on Owens' show, including in an eight-part series that made a number of claims about the Macrons, as well as to rebuffs to three retraction demands sent since last December, according to the suit.

"Owens disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim in favor of platforming known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers. And rather than engage with President and Mrs. Macron’s attempts to set the record straight, Owens mocked them and used them as additional fodder for her frenzied fan base," said the suit filed by attorneys representing the Macrons.

"Owens published the Series and related X posts with reckless disregard for the truth. Owens was repeatedly presented with credible, verifiable evidence disproving her claims – including documentation, public records, and direct outreach from the Macrons. Instead of correcting the record, she doubled down," it added.

The suit names Owens, her company Candace Owens LLC, and website operator GeorgeTom Inc. as defendants.