"Did you harass your colleagues?": Rachida Dati threatens journalist Patrick Cohen with legal action during an interview on France 5

"Personal accusations against journalists are unacceptable," France Télévisions told AFP after the segment on "C à vous."

Interviewed Wednesday, June 18, on France 5 about her legal troubles and the accusations against her, Culture Minister Rachida Dati responded by threatening her interviewer, Patrick Cohen, with an investigation into harassment allegations reported in the press. "Personal accusations against journalists are unacceptable," France Télévisions responded after this segment on "C à vous."

Rachida Dati, indicted in the Carlos Ghosn case for passive corruption, was questioned about accusations recently made by the magazine "Complément d'enquête." According to the accusations, Rachida Dati received $299 000 in fees from GDF Suez when she was a Member of the European Parliament , without declaring the source to the European Parliament.

The minister again denied these facts and counter-attacked, referring to a Mediapart article published in February about tensions dating back several years at France Inter. She also mentioned Patrick Cohen's management when he hosted the morning show.

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"Mr. Cohen, have you harassed your colleagues? Is that true, Mr. Cohen?" the minister asked. "You could also be subject to this offense (of harassment). All I would have to do is write an Article 40 report following this Mediapart article. I can take the matter to court (...) I can do it," she threatened. Article 40 obliges any constituted authority or civil servant to report to the prosecutor any offenses of which they become aware in the exercise of their functions.

The minister also blamed the presenter, Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine: "in the same way, it was said that on "C à vous" the atmosphere is dreadful, that you cry all day, that everyone is blamed." "No, that's false," replied the journalist. "What you're doing isn't very flattering, Ms. Dati. It's dishonorable," declared Patrick Cohen.

Tensions had already risen on the set between Rachida Dati and her interviewers regarding the reform of public broadcasting that she is promoting and which aims to bring Radio France and France Télévisions closer together. "France Télévisions gives its full support to the teams of 'C à vous' and to all of its journalists, who will continue to exercise their profession calmly and freely," the group responded in a press release .