DOJ-OGR-00002202(1).jpg

641 KB

Extraction Summary

2
People
7
Organizations
4
Locations
1
Events
1
Relationships
3
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Legal document
File Size: 641 KB
Summary

This letter, dated December 11, 2020, is from the French Ministry of Justice to the U.S. Department of Justice. It clarifies that French law, specifically Article 696-2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, absolutely prohibits the extradition of any individual who was a French national at the time an alleged crime was committed. The letter contrasts this with the legal practices of Anglo-Saxon countries like the United States, which may extradite their own nationals.

People (2)

Name Role Context
Mr. Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice Minister of Justice
Addressed in the salutation of the letter, likely the head of the French Ministry of Justice.
Andrew FINKELMAN Liaison Magistrate
The letter is being sent through him to the Department of Justice. He is based at the Embassy of the United States of...

Organizations (7)

Name Type Context
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE government agency
The French Ministry of Justice, the sending organization of this letter.
Directorate of Criminal Affairs and Pardons government agency
A department within the French Ministry of Justice from which the letter originates.
Specialized Criminal Justice Sub-Directorate government agency
A sub-department within the French Ministry of Justice.
Office for the International Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters government agency
The specific office within the French Ministry of Justice sending the letter.
Department of Justice (DOJ) government agency
The recipient of the letter, a U.S. government agency.
Embassy of the United States of America in Paris government agency
The location where Andrew FINKELMAN, the Liaison Magistrate, is based.
French courts judicial body
Mentioned as having competence to judge acts committed abroad by a person of French nationality when extradition is r...

Timeline (1 events)

2020-12-11
The French Ministry of Justice sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice to clarify its legal stance on the non-extradition of French nationals.
Paris, France
French Ministry of Justice U.S. Department of Justice Andrew FINKELMAN

Locations (4)

Location Context
The city where the letter was written and where the U.S. Embassy is located.
The country whose laws on extradition are being explained.
The country whose Department of Justice is the recipient of the letter and whose legal system is contrasted with Fran...
The address of the French Ministry of Justice.

Relationships (1)

French Ministry of Justice professional U.S. Department of Justice
This letter is a formal communication between the justice departments of France and the United States regarding a matter of international legal cooperation (extradition).

Key Quotes (3)

"France can extradite "any person not having French nationality," it being specified that nationality is assessed on the day of the commission of the acts for which extradition is requested"
Source
— French Ministry of Justice (citing French Code of Criminal Procedure) (Explaining the fundamental rule of extradition under French law as stated in Article 696-2.)
DOJ-OGR-00002202(1).jpg
Quote #1
"The French Code of Criminal Procedure therefore absolutely prohibits the extradition of a person who had French nationality at the time of the commission of the acts for which extradition is requested."
Source
— French Ministry of Justice (Stating the definitive legal conclusion regarding the extradition of French nationals.)
DOJ-OGR-00002202(1).jpg
Quote #2
"aut tradere, aut judicar"
Source
— French Ministry of Justice (Citing the legal principle ('either extradite or prosecute') that France applies when refusing to extradite based on nationality.)
DOJ-OGR-00002202(1).jpg
Quote #3

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (1,992 characters)

Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 100-2 Filed 12/18/20 Page 3 of 4
[logo]
MINISTRY
OF JUSTICE
Liberty
Equality
Fraternity
Directorate of Criminal Affairs and Pardons
Specialized Criminal Justice Sub-Directorate
Office for the International Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Paris, December 11, 2020
Mr. Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice
to
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Through Andrew FINKELMAN, Liaison Magistrate
Embassy of the United States of America in Paris
I have the honor to inform you that Article 696-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure provides that France can extradite "any person not having French nationality," it being specified that nationality is assessed on the day of the commission of the acts for which extradition is requested (Article 696-4 1°).
The French Code of Criminal Procedure therefore absolutely prohibits the extradition of a person who had French nationality at the time of the commission of the acts for which extradition is requested.
The penal law being of strict interpretation, there is no reason to discriminate between nationals and binationals. From the moment they were French at the time of the facts, the person claimed is inextradible, regardless of whether they hold one or more nationalities.
When the refusal to extradite is based on the nationality of the requested person, France applies the principle "aut tradere, aut judicar" according to which the State which refuses the surrender must judge the person. Thus, Article 113-6 of the Penal Code gives competence to the French courts to judge acts committed abroad by a person of French nationality.
Some countries, generally under Anglo-Saxon law, agree to extradite their nationals and, at the same time, have no jurisdiction to judge acts committed by their nationals on foreign territory. This is particularly the case of the United States of America.
13, place Vendôme - 75042 Paris Cedex 01
Telephone: 01 44 77 60 60
www.justice-gouv.fr
DOJ-OGR-00002202

Discussion 0

Sign in to join the discussion

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts on this epstein document