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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFrance Just Raided Elon Musk's X Offices In Paris -- And It's Bad. Really, Really, Bad.
https://deanblundell.substack.com/p/breaking-france-just-raided-elon?France Just Raided Elon Musks X Offices In Paris And Its Bad. Really, Really, Bad.
This is about power. Influence. And what happens when one billionaire decides the rules dont apply to him anymore.
Dean Blundell
Feb 04, 2026
This is about power. Influence. And what happens when one billionaire decides the rules dont apply to him anymore while trying to hide decades of criminality, treason, and alleged pedophelia and the ongoing amplification of child pornography, sexual abuse, and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
This week, the French government raided the Paris offices of X, Elon Musks social media platform, as part of a criminal investigation into Child Sexual Abuse associated with the Epstein Files and much, much more.
Not a regulatory slap. Not a warning letter. A raid. Computers. Documents. Servers. Banking/Crypto Exchange info.
snip
For the record, Elon Musk called the raid on Twitter (X) offices a political attack.
Frances official response?
Investigating child sexual abuse material isnt controversial. Turning it into political theater is manipulation. Maybe that logic flies on some island. Doesnt fly in France."
French authorities and their European counterparts have been watching Elon Musk for a long time. Officially, French Law enforcement is responding to whistleblower complaints of the sexual abuse of minors and funding from foreign entities to destabilize the French government by working with local far-right Russian-funded groups (proven in a court of law) with Russian-backed leaders of Frances far right.
UpInArms
(54,406 posts)Mebbe you still want to fly to that island?
markodochartaigh
(5,213 posts)using island to refer to the US.
flvegan
(65,951 posts)To be fair, I don't know what investigations into Musk, X, etc currently are here in the US.
*checks notes on DOJ, FBI, admin in general*
Nevermind.
AZJonnie
(3,163 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 4, 2026, 12:55 PM - Edit history (1)
Vive La France
On Edit: Fixed the above to be correct after input below
pandr32
(13,901 posts)Therefore, "Vive la France" because of how their language works. It is one of the ways nouns are assigned grammatical gender.
We need to do our best to show respect to a country who has been a dear ally.
I hope you don't mind that I pointed this out.
Wifes husband
(712 posts)I don't know if he minds, but I do. This is not an English class.
AZJonnie
(3,163 posts)I'm a nitpicky mofo myself, be hypocritical to complain
But thanks for looking out
yardwork
(69,087 posts)Cha
(317,670 posts)Martin68
(27,302 posts)As someone who has lived in many other countries, I appreciate being corrected when I make a mistake in a different language. The correction was pointed out politely, and tactfully. I wonder why you got so defensive about it.
Wifes husband
(712 posts)I am not defensive.
I just don't care for people being corrected for grammar or spelling errors. In distracts from the message that is being submitted; and I believe it inhibits some people from presenting their opinions, thoughts. As long as the message is communicated, what does it matter? I was taught that this kind of behavior was bad manners.
I know my opinion on this will not change those that just have to correct others, but I do try.
Cha
(317,670 posts)Knowledge.
Many of us appreciate it... it seems calling "word police" is the post that Distracted.
Martin68
(27,302 posts)niyad
(130,389 posts)learning new things. This is one of the many things I love about DU. Are there highly sensitive people in our DU family? Yes, of course. But, in general, we try to treat each other kindly, and get called to task when we don't.
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)One of the many reasons I appreciate DU.
stopdiggin
(15,157 posts)Then, NO. That's mangling someone else's language and culture - and an error that bears correction. And the whole thing stands in a different light than nit-picking and word police.
Might be better if you stayed in your own lane ... - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)Last edited Thu Feb 5, 2026, 01:08 AM - Edit history (1)
It's a boring day when I don't learn something.
Mr. Dahlia and I have an expression...heard around the house every day - excruciatingly correct.
OAITW r.2.0
(31,705 posts)when I learn something new that I never knew before.
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)I needed to correct myself.
Cha
(317,670 posts)anyone calling that dear poster "word pollice".. she said it so nicely and it's Important to know.
I'm going to Thank her Now.
Ilikepurple
(447 posts)I agree with Wifes husband that minor grammar, spelling, or linguistic corrections can feel more pedantic than pedagogical, and when it does, it in fact chills speech. I also recognize that we can learn from each other. I read pandr32s comments as mostly informative in nature, but no need to admonish someone for getting a foreign expression wrong. It is one thing to provide correct information, but to say that not doing so is failing some sort of deontic prohibition. I wont admonish pandr32 for ignoring all the masculine French nouns that end in e and the fact the la signifies rather than assigns gender, because most of us dont need to be that careful with our speech. Shortcuts often leave out details and often thats okay. There are surely errors in what Ive written and hopefully thats also okay. A person can respect a country or culture even if they misspell or mispronounce something foreign to them. If not, Americans are in trouble. That being said. Vive la France!
Cha
(317,670 posts)Ilikepurple
(447 posts)Im not sure your response adds any knowledge, but I guess if this discussion isnt in the logical space of reasons, Ill accept Im wrong in whatever way you so eloquently obscured and move on.
Clouds Passing
(7,416 posts)Deuxcents
(25,959 posts)yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)AZJonnie
(3,163 posts)I knew one of them should end in A and one in E, had a 50/50 to get it right, and failed
pandr32
(13,901 posts)I don't usually act as "word police" but the saying is key French patriotism, so we should try to honor it. They have been an important friend.
Envirogal
(286 posts)NJCher
(42,738 posts)thank you for being so graceful about it.
robbob
(3,747 posts)For you non-French speakers, every noun has a gender (dont tell the Repugs!!!), so a cat, for example, is either le chat or la chat (regardless of the cats actual gender), and I have no idea which is correct. Le/la, btw, is the word the, but this applies to every possessive noun. So my is either ma or mon depending on the gender of the object in question. So, using an example that actually involves a gender as we use the term, even though I am a man, I would say mon pere (my father), but MA mere (my mother).
For any actual French speakers reading this, sorry if Ive got anything wrong, but thats the basic idea
RazorbackExpat
(916 posts)A female cat is "la chatte"
BattleRow
(2,135 posts)yardwork
(69,087 posts)Cha
(317,670 posts)Love your French lesson.. 💙
pandr32
(13,901 posts)Lets hope France does what we cant seem to do.
Cha
(317,670 posts)World is Hoping!💔☮️🌺🌻🕯️🕊️💜
Aloha
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)lanlady
(7,227 posts)Nothing to do with France being a feminine noun.
Sorry to be pedantic!
MadameButterfly
(3,854 posts)Maybe that's your point. Sorry if I'm being dense.
I'm so glad there is an authority outside of the US that can expose and prosecute him.
I hope he doesn't set Starlink against them.
mwmisses4289
(3,516 posts)That was whole point of Doge(y). It wasn't to find "waste and fraud", it was to dismantle agencies that were investigating him and t.
sheshe2
(96,548 posts)That's it in a nutshell.
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)BattleRow
(2,135 posts)Turnabout is more than fair play.
pandr32
(13,901 posts)ProfessorGAC
(76,104 posts)Protecting children from predators is not political.
Never has been; never will be.
leftstreet
(39,441 posts)The Madcap
(1,817 posts)I really hope that's what they meant...
GreenWave
(12,457 posts)Disaffected
(6,250 posts)isn't around any more:
"Thank heaven for little girls, for little girls get bigger every day,...."
GreenWave
(12,457 posts)The French movie Battle of Algiers was a real wake up call for me.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058946/
We need the Battle for Epstein Island
Aviation Pro
(15,343 posts)In 2029 this will happen here.
Skittles
(170,171 posts)repukes were able to start a WAR based on lies and were NEVER held accountable
Shipwack
(3,028 posts)However, if enough congress people retire or are unable to serve, perhaps we can get the average age of people serving into the 50s
That generation might wipe their ass with the concepts of commit, looking forward, not back, or Im afraid the Republicans will be mean if we hold them accountable
One can dream
Karma13612
(4,943 posts)The cycle keeps repeating!
We need to put a stop to the corruption.
No more look forward, not back.
Im envisioning President Mark Kelly appointing Jack Smith (the pit bull with morals) as his US AG.
Time to kick ass and take names.
orleans
(36,729 posts)Fla Dem
(27,479 posts)orangecrush
(29,276 posts)paleotn
(21,817 posts)Could not have been put any better! Vive la France!!
comradebillyboy
(10,944 posts)Amaryllis
(11,106 posts)IrishAfricanAmerican
(4,419 posts)About time someone starts holding these oligarchs accountable.
progressoid
(52,788 posts)You know you can't count on the US to do the right thing for a while.
Cheezoholic
(3,571 posts)tazcat
(245 posts)And it was 33 investigations against eloon that Krasnov shut down. I want them cleaning black and brown mens toilets in prison for the rest of their miserable lives. If not, fly them to Mars already!
allegorical oracle
(6,320 posts)Amaryllis
(11,106 posts)to ignore or gets later. I would expect Aaron Parnas to pick this up. We will see if Rachel or Lawrence picks it up. This writer certainly has plenty to back up all he says.
NJCher
(42,738 posts)I subscribe to many substack writers and like here, the news you see there finally hits the "mainstream" news a few days later.
Day late and a dollar short.
Joinfortmill
(20,463 posts)Not enough oversight. TAX these mother*ckers. As for this 'Creep of all Creeps', I hope he faces the long arm of the law.
Initech
(107,919 posts)Wiz Imp
(9,256 posts)The original 60 count indictment of Epstein in 2006 in Florida was for crimes taking place at his Palm Beach mansion. Epstein was arrested in 2019 for crimes taking place at his New York mansion. We know for a fact that Epstein was committing these heinous acts in both Florida and New York for decades. Someone not travelling to the island absolves them of nothing.
dalton99a
(92,791 posts)allegorical oracle
(6,320 posts)supremely creepy guy.
mwmisses4289
(3,516 posts)Arizona? New Mexico??? where trafficking also supposedly took place.
niyad
(130,389 posts)garybeck
(10,070 posts)this vast conspiracy is not just about Epstein and it's not just about the files that are being released
it's also not just about child sex trafficking
AZJonnie
(3,163 posts)In fact, as an exercise, try to find a record of anyone who has stated, under oath (including sworn affidavit), that they were sexually abused on Epstein's island, and also asserting that that they are certain that they were a minor at the time of that abuse.
I'm only implying the lack thereof to further your point: The evidence of wrong-doing at NYC and S. FL estates is OVERWHELINGLY stronger than that re: Little St. James. Like, by orders of magnitude stronger.
Specifically regarding JE/GM's abuse of *minors*, the island is more accurately viewed as a "symbol of" as opposed to "literally where it happened".
OTOH, I absolutely think he was trafficking 18+ girls from that place right and left
Ford_Prefect
(8,535 posts)Bev54
(13,317 posts)it makes claims that the buildings were disinfecting the Jews and others. This is of course not just a lie spread by holocaust deniers but it is illegal in France and I would suspect a number of other European nations. X is done in Europe, this is the beginning of the end. I think they also know the connections with Russia as well. US tech is not going to be the leader in the world soon.
NameAlreadyTaken
(2,269 posts)Joinfortmill
(20,463 posts)ToxMarz
(2,794 posts)Don't worry, they don't explode THAT often.
And France isn't Greenland or Venezuala, they have nuclear weapons too.
raging moderate
(4,606 posts)Merci beaucoup!
IbogaProject
(5,691 posts)Good
Vive la France
AdamGG
(1,870 posts)About time for some of this to play out.
turbinetree
(27,198 posts)Exp
(815 posts)AllaN01Bear
(28,844 posts)Amaryllis
(11,106 posts)MorbidButterflyTat
(4,281 posts)"...Bad. Really, Really, Bad."??
JohnnyRingo
(20,627 posts)I'm kidding. It's cheaper to bribe the judges.
mwmisses4289
(3,516 posts)any judge worth his salt will steer well clear of any bribe e tries to make. It will come out pretty quickly if there appears to be any...favorotism...to e.
liberalla
(10,915 posts)Russian funded groups and actions dedicated to election fraud and destabilization of the French government. I think he's been integral in the same political type of influence in other European countries. That far right nationalist crap... Marie Le Pen, anyone??? and we all know he was actively interfering in our own elections!!
Sogo
(7,039 posts)nt.
RetiredParatrooper
(117 posts)AND YOU ANI'T IN IT!
You and I are not members of The Big Club.
liberalla
(10,915 posts)Whoa! That substack article is freakin fantastic!
Thank you thank you!!!
Amaryllis
(11,106 posts)Rhiagel
(1,847 posts)"Among potential crimes it said it would investigate were complicity in possession or organised distribution of images of children of a pornographic nature, infringement of people's image rights with sexual deepfakes and fraudulent data extraction by an organised group."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3ex92557jo
It would be nice to see the richest man in the world do a little perp walk.
Cha
(317,670 posts)Thank You!
JokeHer
(31 posts)In pinstripes. Absolute garbage scum!!!
Cha
(317,670 posts)Merci Beaucoup to You and The French Government!
This is Enormous.. I hope American PEDOs are shaking in their Depraved boots.
Vive la France... The Good Guys!
Iggo
(49,744 posts)Maybe this is how we get these fuckers.
yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)Irish_Dem
(80,390 posts)High time Europe took the gloves off to protect American psychopaths.
pwb
(12,544 posts)Nobody should have that much money. That goes for all the wealth trash billionaires too. Share it or we tax your wealth, never mind your income tax that you always seem to avoid paying. Your wealth could be short.
efhmc
(16,206 posts)sheshe2
(96,548 posts)Bring it on, France, bring it on.
tavernier
(14,360 posts)Chop Chop
Blue Owl
(58,557 posts)And let him rot there the rest of his life.
Seize his assets and use them the repair all the damage hes done.
Make him a lesson in the history books as one of humanitys biggest failures and losers.
pansypoo53219
(22,956 posts)SunSeeker
(57,874 posts)yellow dahlia
(5,179 posts)in the UK, the United States, and across the European Union."
ENOUGH! Time to push back everywhere all at once.
Great Substack article. Thank you Dean Blundell.
Metaphorical
(2,605 posts)If, somehow, the US had actually managed to indict Musk on anything, the Orange one would simply have pardoned him for his crimes. I don't see the French being quite so inclined to do so.
GoodRaisin
(10,793 posts)Aussie105
(7,718 posts)when some of the aristocrats got a bit uppity?
"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité' has some real meaning and historic background.
"Translated directly from French, the motto means "liberty, equality, fraternity". Less literally, however, Liberté, Égalité, and Fraternité are fundamental values that define French society, and democratic life in general."
America could use a big dose of that right now.
And if it needed the use of the guillotine, who am I to argue?
bucolic_frolic
(54,449 posts)"have been watching Elon Musk for a long time"
Chilling!
BigmanPigman
(54,775 posts)that happened in their country. Good thing other countries are doing something since ours refuses to.