French judges to European Parliament: lift Le Pen's immunity

Far-right candidate for the presidential election Marine Le Pen speaks during a campaign meeting in Arcis-sur-Aube, near Troyes, France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Le Pen argues that Muslim immigration and economic globalization are destroying France's identity, and polls suggest she could advance to the second round of France's presidential election, set for April 23 and May 7. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) (The Associated Press)

A worker removes a graffiti outside French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's campaign headquarters, Thursday April 13, 2017 in Paris. The Paris fire department says no one was injured in the incident overnight and the blaze was quickly extinguished. The device hit an insurance office on the ground floor where Le Pen's campaign is based. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (The Associated Press)

PARIS – French investigators are asking the European Parliament to lift far-right legislator Marine Le Pen's immunity so that she can face possible prosecution over suspected misuse of parliamentary salaries.

Le Pen, a leading candidate for France's presidential election April 23 and May 7, has immunity from prosecution as a European Parliament member.

The Paris prosecutor's office said Friday that investigating judges issued the request, and it is being transmitted by the French government to the European Parliament.

Le Pen said Friday on Francetvinfo that it's "the normal procedure." She has called the accusations unfounded.

The case concerns suspicions that Le Pen and others in her anti-immigration National Front party used parliamentary aides for party activity while they were on EU-financed salaries.

The European Parliament last month lifted her immunity in another investigation, over tweeting gruesome images of Islamic State violence.