France: Sarkozy denies wrongdoing in campaign funding trial

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appeared in court, angrily denying wrongdoing during a trial over the allegedly illegal financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid

PARIS -- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared in court Tuesday, angrily denying wrongdoing during a trial over the allegedly illegal financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. Sarkozy, 66, is facing allegations that he spent almost twice the maximum legal amount of 22.5 million euros ($27.5 million) on the presidential race he lost to Socialist Francois Hollande. Sarkozy made his first appearance Tuesday at the trial which started last month. The Paris court is seeking to determine whether he was aware of the system of false invoices that was meant to cover up the overspending. Sarkozy vehemently denied that: "Did I intend to cook the books, do false invoices, was I not careful enough, was I negligent? The answer is no.”