France's interior minister convicted of making racist comments, fined euro750

Published November 17, 2014

PARIS (AP) — France's top law enforcement official has been convicted of making racist comments, fined euro750 ($900) and ordered to pay a further euro2,000 to an anti-racism group.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux's lawyer said he would appeal.

Hortefeux was caught on camera last year making what sounded like anti-Arab remarks. Hortefeux insists his words were innocent and were misconstrued.

A court in Paris convicted him Friday of "private insults of a racial nature."

The incident prompted calls for Hortefeux's resignation. Hortefeux is a longtime friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy and a former immigration minister.

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