Gambiaj.com-(PARIS, France) – Renowned attorney Juan Branco, who represented Senegal’s prime minister Ousmane Sonko and is well-known for his contentious court cases and political writings, has been suspended for three years by the Paris bar’s disciplinary council for violating professional secrecy. This decision, announced on Wednesday in Paris, was actually delivered on October 8 and comes as Branco continues to face allegations of rape stemming from a 2021 judicial investigation.

The suspension includes a nine-month prison term for violating the confidentiality of an ongoing investigation. Branco, 34, is accused of publishing sensitive legal documents, including hearing transcripts from women who accused him of rape. These materials were shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account and his personal website in June 2023.

A source close to the embattled attorney’s case confirmed that Branco has appealed the disciplinary council’s decision, which temporarily allows him to continue practicing law until the appeal is resolved. The appellate review is expected within the next year.

Allegations and the Controversy

Branco was indicted for rape in 2021 and has consistently denied the charges, claiming his accusers are lying. However, his decision to publicize sensitive documents from the ongoing case raised ethical concerns. The disciplinary council determined that his actions violated core professional principles, particularly the obligation to maintain confidentiality.

Beyond his legal career, Branco is widely recognized for his political activism and his anti-Macron book, Crépuscule, published in 2018. His past legal representation includes Russian artist Piotr Pavlenski, who was convicted in 2020 for disseminating intimate videos of Benjamin Griveaux, a former candidate for Paris mayor.

Branco’s suspension marks a significant development in his controversial career. While the appeal process unfolds, he remains eligible to practice law, albeit under intensified scrutiny.