TL:DR – French Authorities Warn of Russian Disinformation Targeting President Macron
• French authorities warned of a Russian disinformation campaign implicating President Emmanuel Macron in the Epstein files, reported by Viginum on 30 January.
• A false article claimed Macron attended parties at Epstein’s Paris residence, mimicking the media outlet France Soir.
• The claims were amplified on social media, with allegations that Macron organised parties with young men post-inauguration in May 2017.
• No evidence links Macron directly to Epstein’s wrongdoings, according to the latest tranche of files from the US DOJ.
• Jack Lang, tied to Epstein, has been summoned by the French foreign ministry for questioning.
Russian actors behind smear campaign to frame Macron in the Epstein files
French authorities have issued a warning regarding a Russian disinformation operation aiming to implicate French President Emmanuel Macron in the recently released Epstein files by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on 30 January. The operation is marked by a false article that claimed Macron attended parties at Jeffrey Epstein’s Paris residence and suggests inappropriate interactions.
The false narrative began circulating on a website mimicking the fringe media outlet France Soir, according to France’s agency for tackling foreign information manipulation, Viginum. This development underscores concerns over the use of misinformation to manipulate political reputations, particularly in the context of upcoming national and European elections.
Russian Disinformation Campaign Identified
Viginum has stated that the campaign bears similarities to the Russian operation known as Storm-1516, notorious for spreading fabricated stories and deepfakes to advance Kremlin interests, as reported by French media. The misleading article, which was signed with the byline of a journalist from the French newspaper Le Parisien, has been characterised as a tactic commonly employed in Russian propaganda.
The article’s claims were disseminated widely on social media, particularly through a doctored video that purported to show Macron hosting a party shortly after his inauguration in May 2017. The French authorities responded by clarifying that the documents featured in the video were created using artificial intelligence, adding a critical perspective on the nature of the misinformation.
Claims Centre on Fabricated Correspondence
The narratives in the article and accompanying video are based on altered email exchanges purportedly between Epstein and model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, dated 20 May 2017. However, there is no verifiable evidence of these exchanges in the DOJ’s official records.
Additionally, many mentions of Macron in the Epstein files relate to discussions of French politics or other personal connections rather than direct communications between him and Epstein. The Centre for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine reported that the false narratives were amplified by the “Matryoshka” bot network, one of the Kremlin’s major propaganda efforts designed to spread misinformation rapidly across social media platforms.
Macron’s Name Mentioned in Epstein Files
While Macron is named in the latest batch of Epstein files, there is no evidence suggesting any wrongdoing on his part. Reports show that Epstein demonstrated interest in connecting with Macron, with some documents dated from 2018 indicating attempts by Epstein to establish contact through various intermediaries.
Other mentions of Macron highlight interactions with figures in French and international politics, but again, there is no indication that Epstein attended any of these meetings. The situation persists as authorities continue to scrutinise the links between individuals in the Epstein files and the broader implications for France as allegations of misinformation circulate.
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