U.S. Official Pressured French Judge Over Marine Le Pen Election Ban. A senior adviser from the U.S. State Department privately questioned a French magistrate about the election ban imposed on far-right leader Marine Le Pen, according to newly revealed details. French judge Magali Lafourcade confirmed that the meeting took place last May and said the approach from the American official raised enough concern for her to alert France’s foreign ministry. The ministry has declined to comment. The discussion was arranged by the U.S. Embassy in Paris and involved State Department adviser Samuel Samson, along with another U.S. diplomat. The meeting occurred two months after Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement and barred from running for public office for five years, effectively excluding her from the 2027 presidential race. Her appeal is still pending. Lafourcade said the conversation initially focused on free speech but repeatedly returned to Le Pen’s legal case, despite the fact that her committee has no role in ongoing judicial proceedings. The revelations renew scrutiny of U.S. engagement with Europe’s far right.