bodyguard Thierry Légier portrays himself as a faithful “Swiss army knife” of Jean-Marie Le Pen

The current head of security for Jordan Bardella was questioned on Monday about his missions with former MEP Fernand Le Rachinel, while he was also, at the time, bodyguard for Jean-Marie Le Pen.

He assumes the “double cap”. Jean-Marie Le Pen’s former bodyguard, Thierry Légier, is the first former European parliamentary assistant to have been questioned at the trial of the National Rally and 25 of its current or former members. In a suit and tie, this sixty-year-old with a massive build – 1.90 and 97 kilos – took the stand of the Paris criminal court, Monday October 7, to explain his work with former MEP Fernand Le Rachinel between 2005 and 2009, while he was at the same time the bodyguard of the president of the far-right party, which was then called National Front. To hear it, the starting point of this “double” mission is very simple: “It was Jean-Marie Le Pen who asked me to go see him to sign the contract.”

At that time, Thierry Légier had been the shadow of the Frontist boss for more than ten years. This former soldier was hired in 1992 to ensure the security of Jean-Marie Le Pen to replace Robert Moreau, a former wrestling glory of the 60s nicknamed “the Executioner of Béthune”, says Le Figaro. “I started at the European Parliament to replace my predecessor, who had held the same position for eight yearsexplains the author of the book Mission Le Pen. That’s why I’m surprised that no one came to tell me that I was illegal.”

Like the 12 parliamentary assistants in this case, Thierry Légier is being prosecuted for concealment of embezzlement of public funds. Justice accuses him in particular of having benefited from a comfortable salary paid by the European institution – more than 5,000 euros per month – to assist the elected representative Fernand Le Rachinel while he protected “365 days a year” Jean-Marie Le Pen, as his former partner assured the judges. The latter also said that she had never seen him write notes, he who did not know how to write. Thierry Légier shrugs his shoulders, puts these statements down to a “conflictual divorce” : “It’s been five years since my son stopped coming to my house.”

Nothing to soften the court or the prosecution, who are trying to understand the nature of his interventions as a parliamentary assistant. “What do you think about being made to sign a contract with someone who is not really your employer?”asks the president, Bénédicte de Perthuis. The defendant does not hide the fact that he “heard in the press” talk about “job sharing” for FN MEPs. “I trusted the MP”he adds. Which ? Jean-Marie Le Pen, also an MEP at that time, or Fernand Le Rachinel?

“Given the threats that there were against the group [de députés FN]I took care of security during travel. I worked days between 12 and 16 hours a day.”

Thierry Légier, former parliamentary assistant to Fernand Le Rachinel

in court

“I was the Swiss army knife of securitycontinues the bodyguard with a scalp dotted with bleached hair. I also took care of visitors, meetings with MEPs of other nationalities or meetings in one of the five bars of the European Parliament.” The prosecutor insists: “But you were more often in Saint-Cloud [où se trouvaient le domicile de Jean-Marie Le Pen et le siège du parti] or in Brussels?” Thierry Légier, who recounted in his book having followed Jean-Marie Le Pen to Iraq to meet the dictator Saddam Hussein, once again illustrates his unfailing loyalty to his former boss, now 96 years old: “I accompany Mr Le Pen to each parliamentary session, once a month in Strasbourg, and to the mini-sessions in Brussels every month.” “When Jean-Marie Le Pen is not in Brussels, are you not in Brussels?”notes the magistrate. “Quite.” “So you don’t work for Mr. Le Rachinel when Jean-Marie Le Pen is not in Brussels?” “Quite.” One point for the prosecution.

A little earlier in the day, Fernand Le Rachinel admitted to having written in 2008 to Thierry Légier to ask him to “reassign” its activities at its service. “It is necessary that you provide me with your assistance directly”can we read on this missive, projected at the hearing. The 82-year-old former elected official, then in conflict with the National Front, had received a refusal by mail. Faced with the document displayed on the big screen in the courtroom, the bodyguard does not remember having written or signed it.

Perhaps the answer had been suggested to him by the ex-treasurer of the party, Wallerand de Saint-Just, the court suggests? “I have no more memories, it’s old”whispers the defendant. “I refresh your memory”reminds the prosecutor, reminding him that he benefited, in passing, from severance pay of 29,000 euros paid by the European Parliament. “It’s the law!”grumbles from his bench the former MEP and other defendant Bruno Gollnisch, who will be heard on Tuesday.

Today, Thierry Légier is no longer an employee of the party. But he is still a bodyguard for the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella. He faces ten years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros.