Defiant Sarkozy tells bribery trial he is the victim of lies

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the courtroom during his trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling, at Paris courthouse, France, December 7, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) -Former President Nicolas Sarkozy told a French court on Monday that he had never engaged in corruption and that he was the victim of lies.

Sarkozy is on trial for charges of trying to bribe a judge and influence-peddling, among several charges that threaten to cast an ignominious pall over his decades-long political career.