France probes threats against judge who sentenced Sarkozy

"French authorities said Friday they have launched two investigations into threats targeting the presiding judge in the conspiracy trial of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was jailed for five years. The magistrates' union said the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, had received death threats and messages threatening her with "serious violence" in the wake of Thursday's verdict. A special anti-online hate task force will lead the investigations."

""Freedom of speech, including online, stops when it crosses the line into putting people in danger," the Paris prosecutors' office said. Sarkozy, 70, was accused of striking a deal with Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 presidential run, in exchange for helping the late leader restore his international image. The rightwinger, France's president from 2007 to 2012, was acquitted of corruption and personally accepting illegal campaign financing, but convicted on criminal conspiracy charges."

French authorities launched two investigations after the presiding judge in Nicolas Sarkozy's conspiracy trial received death threats and messages threatening "serious violence". A special anti-online hate task force will lead the probes. Paris prosecutors said freedom of speech ends when it puts people in danger. Sarkozy, 70, was accused of striking a deal with Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 run in return for restoring Kadhafi's image. He was acquitted of corruption and accepting illegal campaign financing but convicted of criminal conspiracy. He was sentenced to five years in jail, fined €100,000 and banned from public office; he denies wrongdoing and has appealed.

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