Macron under fire after attempted search of French news outlet Mediapart
washingtonpost.com
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Wiretapping without due legal process is also an offence in France, and "but we are journalists" isn't a valid reason.
At this point of the investigation (which is preliminary), "we don't agree to be searched" is legally a valid reason to oppose. If the investigation becomes official, it will be led by a judge and then it will be another matter.
The issue is that sources are to be protected, for freedom of press. "We are journalists" is a very valid reason in that regard.
Let's not be fooled here. Mediapart claims they are targeted for political reason but they are conducting a political campaign themselves. Edwy Plenel (Mediapart's boss) started his career at the French's Revolutionary Communist League's weekly newspaper...
But I agree that it was rather foolish to demand to search their office without a warrant.
Notwithstanding the likely possibility that even a highly partisan journalist can be professional and can know when to put their opinions aside.
An illegal source is still a source - and the fact that something has been illegally captured doesn't change the veracity it exposes - although it taints the receivability of it as a proof, legally speaking - that's a different matter.