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{{short description|French-Spanish political activist, writer and lawyer}}

{{Undue weight|date=July 2023}}{{Outdated|part=education, researcher career, cases, journalistic activity, books...|date=July 2023|reason=Widely covered content is missing e.g : 3 football financial fair play affairs in 2021 (Barcelona, La Liga, Tayeb Benabderahmane), 5 yellow vests cases, analysis of (new) books, Jean-Luc Mélenchon case, 2016 Nice terrorist attacks case, master at Paris Universities, researcher activity at Yale, Max Planck.., journalistic activity (L'Humanité, Libération, Le Monde Diplomatique, Central african war...), etc.}}{{short description|French-Spanish political activist, writer and lawyer}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Juan Branco | name = Juan Branco
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| image_size = | image_size =
| caption =Juan Branco in 2019 | caption =Juan Branco in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1989}} | birth_date = 1989
| birth_place = ], ],<br />Spain | birth_place = ], ],<br />Spain
| nationality = French, Spanish | nationality = French, Spanish
| education = ] (]) | education = ]
]
]
| occupation = Lawyer | occupation = Lawyer
| notable_works = ]
| party = ] (2008-2009)
] (2012)<br />
] (2014)<br />
] (2017-2018)
| father = ] | father = ]
| mother = Dolores López | mother = Dolores López
}} }}


'''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}) is a ] ], ] and writer. '''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer.


He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book '']'', critical of French President ], and in early 2020, with his involvement in the ]{{Not relevant|date=July 2023}}. He has been a supporter of the ] and defended figures of the movement ], including ] and ]. He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book ''Crépuscule'', critical of French President ], and in early 2020, with his involvement in the ]. He has been a supporter of the ].


== Early life and education ==
In July 2023, he became the lawyer for ] opposition leader ] and accused President ] of "crimes against humanity" at the ] over the ], which led to him being sued by the ] and ] issuing an ] for him.
Branco was born in 1989 in ], near Málaga. He is the son of film producer ].{{cn|date=December 2022}}


⚫ He went to the ], an elite private high school in Paris.<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html|title = Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie|date = 11 February 2019}}</ref> He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the ] neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like ].<ref name="lefigaro.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/juan-branco-itineraire-d-un-enfant-gate-devenu-activiste-sans-scrupule-20200218|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule|date=18 February 2020}}</ref>
⚫ == Personal life ==
Born in Spain in 1989, in the municipality of ], ], Juan Branco is the son of Portuguese film producer ] and Spanish psychoanalyst Dolores López. He grew up in Andalusia and then in Paris, between the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2018 |title=Juan Branco désosse Macron {{!}} Entretiens |url=https://la-bas.org/la-bas-magazine/entretiens/Juan-Branco-desosse-Macron |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Là-bas si j'y suis |language=fr}}</ref> He has two sisters and a brother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santucci |first=Françoise-Marie |title=Le joueur des chèques. |url=https://www.liberation.fr/portrait/1999/05/13/le-joueur-des-cheques_272787/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> He was naturalized French in 2010.<ref name=":52">Endeweld 2013</ref>


⚫ He studied as undergraduate at ] and as graduate and PhD student at the ], where he was admitted without passing the entrance exam.<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/>
⚫ He studied at the ], an elite private high school in Paris.<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html|title = Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie|date = 11 February 2019}}</ref> He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the ] neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like ].<ref name="lefigaro.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/juan-branco-itineraire-d-un-enfant-gate-devenu-activiste-sans-scrupule-20200218|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule|date=18 February 2020}}</ref>


⚫ In 2013, he assisted to a horse race in the desert at the invite of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.<ref name="lexpress.fr"/>
⚫ He studied as undergraduate at ] and as graduate and PhD student at the ], where he was admitted without passing the entrance exam.{{POV statement|date=July 2023}}{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2023|reason=Source COI with subject|certain=y}}<ref name="Tabet 20–23">{{cite journal |date=March 2020 |title=Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco |last=Tabet |language=fr |journal=Le Parisien |issue=23487 |pages=20–23}}</ref>


⚫ He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|title = Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 7 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php|title = Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain|date = 10 June 2021}}</ref>
⚫ In 2013, he assisted to a horse race in the desert at the invite of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2023|reason=Source COI with subject|certain=y}}{{Undue weight inline|date=July 2023}}<ref name="lexpress.fr"/>


⚫ == Political activity ==
⚫ He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|title = Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 7 May 2019}}</ref>{{POV statement|date=July 2023}}{{Not in source given|date=July 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php|title = Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain|date = 10 June 2021}}</ref>
As a student, Branco actively supported former right-wing Prime Minister ], a friend of his mother's.<ref name="Tabet 20–23">{{cite journal |date=March 2020 |title=Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco |last=Tabet |language=fr |journal=Le Parisien |issue=23487 |pages=20–23}}</ref>


Afterwards he supported ] and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President ] (]). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications ], who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election.
In 2018, '']'' stated that Branco is making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims.{{Undue weight inline|date=July 2023}} Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told ''L'Express'' that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school do.{{Undue weight inline|date=July 2023}} He also claimed "never having created a ]", but ''L'Express'' provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and used derogatory language.{{Undue weight inline|date=July 2023}}<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Exercising his ], published by the newspaper on 29 April 2019, Branco criticised the article for presenting "a one-sided portrait of a 29-year-old man, based in particular on facts that occurred during minority";<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-29 |title=Droit de réponse de Juan Branco |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/politique/droit-de-reponse-de-juan-branco_2074683.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref> he also pointed out that L'Express is owned by the businessman and billionaire ], who had been heavily criticised in ].<ref name="ReferenceB2">{{Cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-15 |title=L'Express VS Juan Branco : le vrai du faux - Par Manuel Vicuña {{!}} Arrêt sur images |url=https://www.arretsurimages.net/articles/lexpress-vs-juan-branco-le-vrai-du-faux |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.arretsurimages.net}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-05-07 |title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ? |language=french |website=Franceinfo |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html |url-status=live |access-date=2020-06-30 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>


Branco then joined the left-wing populist party ]. He stood in the ] for ] where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss".<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/> After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of ] in the ] his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.<ref name="francetvinfo.fr"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref>
⚫ == Political activity and activism ==


As a student, Branco worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications ]. He then joined the left-wing populist party ]. He stood in the ] for ] where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss".<ref name="Tabet 20–23" /> After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of ] in the ] his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.<ref name="francetvinfo.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date=7 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref> He became a vocal supporter of the ], some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle,<ref name="lefigaro.fr"/> and a critic of ] ] thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2019-05-07|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Franceinfo|language=french}}</ref>


In 2018 he ] the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman ] on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lincorrect.org/nous-serons-probablement-demain-lun-et-lautre-des-ennemis-principiels-juan-branco/|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels |date=17 January 2019}}</ref>
He supported the ] from the start and called for the dismissal of ].<ref name=":022">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-05-07 |title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ? |language=french |website=Franceinfo |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html |url-status=live |access-date=2020-06-30 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref><ref name="lexpress.fr22">{{Cite web |date=11 February 2019 |title=Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html}}</ref> He demonstrated several times alongside the yellow vests<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-29 |title=Des "gilets jaunes" à Piotr Pavlenski, en passant par l'intelligentsia parisienne... La galaxie éclectique de Juan Branco |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/russie/piotr-pavlenski/des-gilets-jaunes-a-piotr-pavlenski-en-passant-par-l-intelligentsia-parisienne-la-galaxie-eclectique-de-juan-branco_3835667.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and was present on 5 January 2019 when a forklift truck forced its way into the office of the government spokesman, ].<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":03" /> He became the ] lawyer for protest figures and also a friend of Maxime Nicolle, for whose autobiography ''Fly Rider, gilet jaune'' he wrote the preface.<ref name=":03" />


=== ''Crépuscule'' ===
In May 2018, he publicly accused on Twitter, the ] (MINUSCA) forces of committing a massacre in ],<ref name="Endeweld">{{Cite web |last=Endeweld |first=Marc |date=2018-05-29 |title=Un expert indépendant expulsé de Centrafrique par l'ONU |url=https://www.marianne.net/monde/un-expert-independant-expulse-de-centrafrique-par-l-onu |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref> and said they could be investigated by the Criminal Court.<ref name=":2" /> He had been tasked as an independent expert for the ] with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fr.africanews.com/2018/05/31/centrafrique-la-minusca-expulse-un-expert-francais-qui-l-accuse-de-crimes |title=Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes |lang=fr |first=Carole |last=Kouassi |date=31 May 2018 |website=fr.africanews.com}}</ref> Branco denied that his actions ran contrary to the interests of the United Nations, writing that “denouncing crimes is a requirement for anyone, and in particular for those in charge of fighting them,”.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2018-05-31 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un-idUSKCN1IW265 |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref>
⚫ Branco's book ''Crépuscule'', in which he criticized the French president ], was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full|title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019|title = "Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco| date=11 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias|title = "Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"|date = 26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique|title = "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis|date = 6 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html|title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco|date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco|title = Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 17 April 2019}}</ref>

⚫ Branco's book ''Crépuscule'', in which he criticized the French president ], was published in 2019. The book was commercially successful, but it received mostly negative reviews in the French press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full|title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019|title = "Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco| date=11 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias|title = "Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"|date = 26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique|title = "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis|date = 6 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html|title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco|date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco|title = Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 17 April 2019}}</ref>

In June 2019, he filed at the ], jointly with Omer Shatz, a 250-page communication on European migration policy, accusing the leaders of the ] of ] over the deaths of thousands of migrants who have perished in the ] while trying to flee ] between 2014 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=Décès de migrants en Méditerranée: des avocats veulent traduire l'UE en justice |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/deces-de-migrants-en-mediterranee-des-avocats-veulent-traduire-l-ue-en-justice-20190603 |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Oltermann |first1=Philip |last2=Giuffrida |first2=Angela |date=2022-11-30 |title=European politicians accused of conspiring with Libyan coastguard to push back refugees |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/30/european-politicians-accused-of-conspiring-with-libyan-coastguard-to-push-back-refugees |access-date=2023-05-19 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":172">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco, der Anwalt für Assange, die Gelbwesten und Flüchtlinge |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000104349831/juan-branco-der-anwalt-fuer-assange-fuer-die-gelbwesten-und |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref> The report also claimed that the EU "orchestrated the interception and detention of 40,000 people" seeking to flee the country between 2016 and 2019. The document was based on the analysis of five years of statements, decisions and European reports.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-06-03 |title=Deux avocats accusent l'UE de crimes contre l'humanité envers les migrants de Libye |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2019/06/03/plainte-contre-l-union-europeenne-devant-la-cpi-pour-le-traitement-des-migrants-en-libye_5470685_3210.html |access-date=2023-05-10}}</ref> The ] reacted by indicating that “this accusation has no legal basis”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=Migrants : deux avocats veulent que l'UE soit poursuivie pour crime contre l'humanité |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/monde/europe/migrants-deux-avocats-veulent-que-l-ue-soit-poursuivie-pour-crime-contre-l-humanite_2081944.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref>

In May 2020, Branco leaked an internal document from the Parisian ] hospital which referred to a 75-year-old patient with no medical history and possible coronavirus who was denied an intensive care bed due to a lack of space.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-28 |title=Un patient sans antécédents privé d'un lit en réanimation en Ile-de-France? |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2749939-20200328-coronavirus-ile-france-patient-antecedents-prive-lit-reanimation-manque-place |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref> In September 2021, Branco leaked ]'s vaccine contracts that protect the US pharmaceutical company from legal action in the event of serious ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Busby |first1=Mattha |last2=Milhorance |first2=Flávia |date=2021-09-10 |title=Pfizer accused of holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract demands |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/10/pfizer-accused-of-holding-brazil-to-ransom-over-vaccine-contract-demands |access-date=2023-06-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pfizer is holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract: Reports |url=https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-is-holding-brazil-to-ransom-over-vaccine-contract-reports-412122 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=WION |language=en-us}}</ref> The contract also revealed that Brazil elicited much cheaper jabs from Pfizer than the European Union, at about $10. Branco said that since the production cost of a Pfizer vaccine is believed to be a maximum of $2 (£1.50), the legitimacy of the profits should be questioned and citizens kept in the loop.<ref name=":0" />


== Legal advice and representations == == Legal advice and representations ==
{{Incomplete||See lead template and talk page|date=July 2023}}
He was in 2015 the legal advisor by ] and met with ], trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.<ref></ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/affaire-griveaux-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-juan-branco-20200217|title = Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco|date = 17 February 2020}}</ref> He was in 2015 the legal advisor by ] and met with ], trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.<ref></ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/affaire-griveaux-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-juan-branco-20200217|title = Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco|date = 17 February 2020}}</ref>

⚫ In 2016 he solicited ], the only surviving member of the group directly involved in ] (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing ].<ref name="Abdeslam">{{cite web|title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam|url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341|website=valeursactuelles.com|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller|url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425|website=rtl.fr|date=22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.<ref>{{cite web|title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat|url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1582648688|website=marianne.net|date=25 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> Branco explained that in October 2016, he "had just got his lawyer certificate" and "could be sworn in and become a lawyer in a heartbeat if had wanted to."<ref name=":252">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat |url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":242">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=#VraiOuFake Juan Branco a-t-il vraiment écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam ? |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/faits-divers/terrorisme/attaques-du-13-novembre-a-paris/enquete-sur-les-attentats-de-paris/permettre-a-ceux-qui-ne-sont-pas-defendables-d-etre-defendus-l-avocat-juan-branco-assume-d-avoir-propose-de-defendre-salah-abdeslam_3839443.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=Branco confirme avoir écrit à Abdeslam en 2016 pour lui proposer de le défendre |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/societe/justice/branco-confirme-avoir-ecrit-a-abdeslam-en-2016-pour-lui-proposer-de-le-defendre_2119194.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref>


Branco passed the bar in 2017, and, in 2019, have had 3 clients in two years, including his father, and was receiving ] assistance ('']'') during that time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html|title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco|date=29 April 2019}}</ref> Branco passed the bar in 2017, and, in 2019, have had 3 clients in two years, including his father, and was receiving ] assistance ('']'') during that time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html|title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco|date=29 April 2019}}</ref>
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He has represented his father ] and won his case against ] in '']'' case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/paris-appeals-court-rules-in-favour-of-paulo-branco-on-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/5130200.article|title=Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'|work=Screen|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref> He has represented his father ] and won his case against ] in '']'' case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/paris-appeals-court-rules-in-favour-of-paulo-branco-on-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/5130200.article|title=Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'|work=Screen|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref>


In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the ] cyberbullying case<ref>{{cite news |title=France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-religion-islam-technology-37d079cbf54c3b9880305f2fb2365a11 |access-date=1 November 2022 |work=] |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and Marvel fitness, a defendant in another cyberbullying case, where Branco described the trial as "a playground conflict that should not have been litigated".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2021 |title=Cyberharcelement, le youtubeur Marvel Fitness condamné en appel |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2021/09/28/cyberharcelement-le-youtubeur-marvel-fitness-condamne-en-appel_6096324_4408996.html}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the ] cyberbullying case.<ref>{{cite news |title=France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-religion-islam-technology-37d079cbf54c3b9880305f2fb2365a11 |access-date=1 November 2022 |work=] |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Yellow vests protestors cases === === Griveaux affair ===
In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist ] both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting ], then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Juan Branco was himself involved in the leak,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/videos-intimes-de-griveaux-le-role-trouble-de-juan-branco-14-02-2020-2362721_20.php|title=Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco|website=lepoint.fr|date=14 February 2020|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> a criminal offense under French law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/france-shrugs-at-sex-scandals-but-after-a-leaked-video-this-politician-bowed-out/2020/02/14/263256c0-4f0f-11ea-967b-e074d302c7d4_story.html|title=France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out. |website=washingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> This was denied by Branco.
During the ], he became the ] lawyer for protest figures,<ref name=":032">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-29 |title=Des "gilets jaunes" à Piotr Pavlenski, en passant par l'intelligentsia parisienne... La galaxie éclectique de Juan Branco |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/russie/piotr-pavlenski/des-gilets-jaunes-a-piotr-pavlenski-en-passant-par-l-intelligentsia-parisienne-la-galaxie-eclectique-de-juan-branco_3835667.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":023">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-05-07 |title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ? |language=french |website=Franceinfo |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html |url-status=live |access-date=2020-06-30 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref><ref name=":1722">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco, der Anwalt für Assange, die Gelbwesten und Flüchtlinge |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000104349831/juan-branco-der-anwalt-fuer-assange-fuer-die-gelbwesten-und |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref> such as ],<ref name=":822">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=" Gilets jaunes » : Didier Lallement visé par une seconde information judiciaire pour « détention arbitraire " |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/justice/20220922.OBS63510/gilets-jaunes-didier-lallement-vise-par-une-seconde-information-judiciaire-pour-detention-arbitraire.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=L'Obs |language=fr}}</ref> ],<ref name=":922">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=L'avocat Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol et placé sous contrôle judiciaire |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/harcelement-sexuel/l-avocat-juan-branco-mis-en-examen-pour-viol-et-place-sous-controle-judiciaire_4857119.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Stéphane Espic<ref name=":1022">{{Cite web |last=Leboucq |first=Fabien |title=Brigitte Macron a-t-elle perdu un procès en diffamation contre un gilet jaune ? |url=https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/10/04/brigitte-macron-a-t-elle-perdu-un-proces-en-diffamation-contre-un-gilet-jaune_1801326/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> and Carole Pigaiani.<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |last=AFP |date=2023-06-16 |title=Caricature de Macron et du préfet de police: deux "gilets jaunes" comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/2021/11/21/caricature-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage-Z4RMXE2NYFCIROYYJ5DPMFCSWM/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref> After the protests, he continued to defend former protesters in court against Emmanuel Macron, such as Damien Tarel<ref name=":112">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=L'auteur de la gifle à Emmanuel Macron conteste une partie de sa peine |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/4003024-20220929-grenoble-auteur-gifle-emmanuel-macron-conteste-partie-peine |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref> and Valérie Minet.<ref name=":103">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Une française traite Macron d'ordure : Me Juan Branco désigné pour sa défense - Senegal7 |url=https://senegal7.com/une-francaise-traite-macron-dordure-me-juan-branco-designe-pour-sa-defense/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Several cases are still on-going and 3 were won.


Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/piotr-pavlenski-dans-les-coulisses-de-sa-soiree-du-31-decembre-2019-29-02-2020-8269833.php|title = Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris|date = 29 February 2020}}</ref>
In particular, he became ]'s lawyer and regularly gave him legal advice, intervening for example when Nicolle was "threathened" by a police officer during a protest on 19 January 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Maxime Nicolle, figure des Gilets jaunes, porte plainte pour "menaces" contre un policier après la manifestation à Toulouse |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2019/02/14/maxime-nicolle-figure-des-gilets-jaunes-porte-plainte-pour-menaces-contre-un-policier-apres-la-manifestation-a-toulouse,8014885.php |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=ladepeche.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-14 |title=Manifestation des "gilets jaunes" à Menton : Maxime Nicolle porte plainte |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/alpes-maritimes/menton/manifestation-gilets-jaunes-menton-maxime-nicolle-porte-plainte-1624141.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |language=fr-FR}}</ref> when he was interrogated by the police on 3 April,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-03 |title=Gilets jaunes : Éric Drouet interrogé par la police, Maxime Nicolle convoqué jeudi |url=https://www.europe1.fr/societe/gilets-jaunes-eric-drouet-interroge-par-la-police-maxime-nicolle-convoque-jeudi-3885857 |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=à 18h14 |first=Par V. G. Le 3 avril 2019 |last2=À 20h08 |first2=Modifié Le 3 Avril 2019 |date=2019-04-03 |title=Gilets jaunes : Maxime Nicolle et Eric Drouet disent avoir été convoqués par les forces de l’ordre |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/gilets-jaunes-maxime-nicolle-et-eric-drouet-disent-avoir-ete-convoques-par-les-forces-de-l-ordre-03-04-2019-8045871.php |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref> or when Nicolle was arrested on the ] on 14 July during the ].<ref name=":032" /> He denounced an "arbitrary detention" and initiated legal proceedings to find out who had given the order,<ref name=":822" /> which led to the opening of an investigation against the former ], ] in September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Deuxième enquête contre l'ex-préfet de police Didier Lallement |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/paris/4001985-20220922-gilets-jaunes-deuxieme-enquete-contre-ex-prefet-police-didier-lallement |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=Didier Lallement visé par une deuxième information judiciaire à Paris pour "détention arbitraire" |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/paris-ile-de-france/paris/didier-lallement-vise-par-une-deuxieme-information-judiciaire-a-paris-pour-detention-arbitraire-2620148.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=France 3 Paris Ile-de-France |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance".<ref>{{cite web|title=Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/affaire-griveaux-le-batonnier-de-paris-demande-a-branco-de-ne-pas-defendre-pavlenski-19-02-2020-2363332_2386.php|website=lepoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-02-19|access-date=2020-03-07|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more.<ref>{{cite web|title=Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/branco-redevient-avocat-de-pavlenski-et-demande-une-expertise-psychiatrique-de-griveaux_2120123.html|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-05|access-date=2020-03-05|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/griveaux-la-justice-refuse-l-expertise-psychiatrique-demandee-par-branco-11-03-2020-2366834_2386.php#xtmc=branco&xtnp=1&xtcr=4|website=LePoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-12|access-date=2020-04-01|title=Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco}}</ref>
He also represented the French professional boxer ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-07 |title=Manifestation des "gilets jaunes" samedi : le "boxeur" de la passerelle s'est rendu |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/manifestation-des-gilets-jaunes-samedi-le-boxeur-de-la-passerelle-s-est-rendu-6424224 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=France Inter |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24 |date=2019-02-13 |title=Gilets jaunes : le boxeur de gendarmes Christophe Dettinger condamné à un an de prison ferme |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20190213-france-justice-gilets-jaunes-boxeur-christophe-dettinger-condamnation-prison |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=France 24 |language=fr}}</ref> and tried to recover the money, €145 000, from a fundraising campaign that had been set up to support the boxer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pourquoi Christophe Dettinger, qui avait boxé des gendarmes, ne verra jamais la couleur de sa cagnotte |url=https://rmc.bfmtv.com/actualites/police-justice/pourquoi-christophe-dettinger-qui-avait-boxe-des-gendarmes-ne-verra-jamais-la-couleur-de-sa-cagnotte_AN-202101070559.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=RMC |language=fr}}</ref> However, the fund was cancelled by the court in 2021, and he appeled.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-01-07 |title=Gilets jaunes : la justice s'oppose au versement de la cagnotte de Christophe Dettinger |language=fr-FR |work=La Croix |url=https://www.la-croix.com/France/Gilets-jaunes-justice-soppose-versement-cagnotte-Christophe-Dettinger-2021-01-07-1201133657 |access-date=2023-05-24 |issn=0242-6056}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=magazine |first=Le Point |date=2021-01-06 |title=La cagnotte Leetchi de l'ex-boxeur Gilet jaune Dettinger annulée par la justice |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/la-cagnotte-leetchi-de-l-ex-boxeur-gilet-jaune-dettinger-annulee-par-la-justice-06-01-2021-2408537_2386.php |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>


In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings are being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html|website=nouvelobs.com|language=fr|date=2020-10-08|access-date=2020-12-17|title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco}}</ref>
In 2020, he became the lawyer of Stéphane Espic who was accused by Emmanuel and ] of insulting them,<ref name=":1022" /> and had the case dismissed on 30 September on a technicality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-30 |title=Le tribunal de Toulon annule une procédure visant un Gilet jaune pour "injures" envers Brigitte et Emmanuel Macron |url=https://www.varmatin.com/justice/le-tribunal-de-toulon-annule-une-procedure-visant-un-gilet-jaune-pour-injures-envers-brigitte-et-emmanuel-macron-580677 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Var-Matin |language=fr}}</ref> Branco represented Espic again in 2021 after the latter was arrested and prosecuted for replacing Macron's portrait with a ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-04 |title=Un "gilet jaune" interpellé pour avoir remplacé le portrait en mairie de Macron par un QR code |url=https://www.europe1.fr/faits-divers/un-gilet-jaune-interpelle-pour-avoir-remplace-le-portrait-en-mairie-de-macron-par-un-qr-code-4060920 |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=à 21h56 |first=Par Le Parisien avec AFP Le 4 août 2021 |date=2021-08-04 |title=Besançon : le Gilet jaune qui a remplacé le portrait de Macron par un QR code sera jugé en octobre |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/besancon-un-gilet-jaune-interpelle-pour-avoir-remplace-le-portrait-de-macron-par-un-qr-code-04-08-2021-UZUVDHQNLJCLHIWCOJ4VQ6XGTM.php |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/lorraineactu |date=2021-08-05 |title=Nancy. Un Gilet jaune arrêté pour avoir remplacé le portrait de Macron par un QR code |url=https://actu.fr/grand-est/nancy_54395/nancy-un-gilet-jaune-arrete-pour-avoir-remplace-le-portrait-de-macron-par-un-qr-code_43939764.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=actu.fr |language=fr}}</ref>


== Controversial claims ==
In 2021, he represented Carole Pigaiani and another yellow vest protester, both accused of "contempt of a public authority" for a ] of Emmanuel Macron, police prefect ] and US President ],<ref name=":72" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caricature de Macron et du préfet de police: deux "gilets jaunes" comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/caricature-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage_AD-202111210194.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=BFMTV |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caricature sexuelle de Macron et du préfet de police : deux gilets jaunes comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/caricature-sexuelle-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage-20211122_GWKUIONG4RDWHHNWZELKLYNKLQ/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> and managed to get the two yellow vests acquitted by the Paris Correctional Court on 26 May 2022.<ref name=":72" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Deux « gilets jaunes » relaxés pour leur caricature sexuelle de Macron |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/3297655-20220527-deux-gilets-jaunes-relaxes-caricature-sexuelle-macron-prefet-paris |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>


Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications ],<ref name="ReferenceB"/> but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She describes him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful", as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".<ref name="francetvinfo.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
He also became Damien Tarel's lawyer, who was condemned for smacking ], and defended "a purgatory gesture which relieved many French people".<ref>{{cite web |date=2 November 2022 |title="Un geste purgatoire qui portait la parole de beaucoup de Français", le gifleur d'Emmanuel Macron voit sa peine confirmée en appel |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/drome/un-geste-purgatoire-qui-portait-la-parole-de-beaucoup-de-francais-le-gifleur-d-emmanuel-macron-voit-sa-peine-confirmee-en-appel-2647116.html |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |language=fr-FR}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref name=":112" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=à 18h05 |first1=Par Le Parisien Le 2 novembre 2022 |last2=À 07h35 |first2=Modifié Le 3 Novembre 2022 |date=2022-11-02 |title=Emmanuel Macron giflé : la peine contre Damien Tarel confirmée en appel |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/emmanuel-macron-gifle-la-peine-contre-damien-tarel-confirmee-en-appel-02-11-2022-2A7SYYQH3FHARJSBTJZYGSAGMU.php |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


⚫ In 2016 he solicited ], the only surviving member of the group directly involved in ] (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing ].<ref name="Abdeslam">{{cite web|title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam|url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341|website=valeursactuelles.com|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller|url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425|website=rtl.fr|date=22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.<ref>{{cite web|title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat|url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1582648688|website=marianne.net|date=25 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref>
In 2023, he successfully defended Valérie Minet, who was prosecuted and held in ] for nine hours, for calling ] a "scumbag" on ], facing a 12,000 euro fine.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title="C'est une volonté d'intimidation" : Juan Branco désigné avocat de Valérie M, poursuivie pour avoir insulté Emmanuel Macron sur Facebook |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/pas-calais/saint-omer/c-est-une-volonte-d-intimidation-juan-branco-designe-avocat-de-valerie-m-poursuivie-pour-avoir-insulte-emmanuel-macron-sur-facebook-2745030.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=France 3 Hauts-de-France |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=L'Audomaroise qui a qualifié Macron d'« ordure » sera défendue par l'ancien avocat de Mélenchon |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1313068/article/2023-04-06/l-audomaroise-qui-qualifie-macron-d-orduresera-defendue-par-l-ancien-avocat-de |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=La Voix du Nord |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Une française traite Macron d'ordure : Me Juan Branco désigné pour sa défense - Senegal7 |url=https://senegal7.com/une-francaise-traite-macron-dordure-me-juan-branco-designe-pour-sa-defense/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> On 4 July, the Saint-Omer judicial court dropped the case against Valérie Minet,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=Justice. Nullité de la procédure contre Valérie Minet pour avoir insulté Emmanuel Macron |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/pas-calais/saint-omer/justice-le-proces-de-valerie-minet-pour-avoir-insulte-emmanuel-macron-debute-cet-apres-midi-a-saint-omer-2807645.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=France 3 Hauts-de-France |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and Branco announced that he would file a complaint against all those involved in the illegal procedure:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=Saint-Omer : insultes contre Emmanuel Macron, le tribunal annule la procédure |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/saint-omer-insultes-contre-emmanuel-macron-le-tribunal-annule-la-procedure-3673030 |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |language=fr}}</ref> from the Sub-Prefect to the Prosecutor and the police officers, a total of twelve people.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=Elle avait insulté Emmanuel Macron : Juan Branco veut porter plainte contre le procureur et le sous-préfet de Saint-Omer malgré l’annulation |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1348678/article/2023-07-04/elle-avait-insulte-emmanuel-macron-juan-branco-veut-porter-plainte-contre-le |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=La Voix du Nord |language=fr}}</ref>


In 2018, ''L'Express'' stated that Branco is making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told ''L'Express'' that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school do. He also claimed "never having created a ]", but ''L'Express'' provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
=== Griveaux affair ===

On 14 February 2020, he represented the Russian artist ] after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting Paris mayoral elections candidate ]. Multiple sources claimed that Branco was involved in the leak,{{Additional citation needed|date=July 2023}} which he denied,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2020 |title=Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/videos-intimes-de-griveaux-le-role-trouble-de-juan-branco-14-02-2020-2362721_20.php |access-date=2020-02-29 |website=lepoint.fr |language=fr}}</ref> but still led the chairman of the French bar association to advise Branco to step down due to a "lack of distance".<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-02-19 |title=Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/affaire-griveaux-le-batonnier-de-paris-demande-a-branco-de-ne-pas-defendre-pavlenski-19-02-2020-2363332_2386.php |access-date=2020-03-07 |website=lepoint.fr |language=fr |publication-date=}}</ref> Branco initially followed the advice but later reversed his decision and rejoined Pavlensky's defence.<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-03-05 |title=Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/branco-redevient-avocat-de-pavlenski-et-demande-une-expertise-psychiatrique-de-griveaux_2120123.html |access-date=2020-03-05 |website=LExpress.fr |language=fr |publication-date=}}</ref> In October 2020, the Paris Bar Association opened disciplinary proceedings against Branco,<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=nouvelobs.com |language=fr}}</ref> and in September 2021 he was disciplined for having alledgely "amplified the viral distribution" of the intimate videos, but was largely cleared of the other charges.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leplongeon |first=Marc |date=2021-10-04 |title=INFO LE POINT. Affaire Griveaux : Juan Branco sanctionné d'un blâme |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/info-le-point-affaire-griveaux-juan-branco-sanctionne-d-un-blame-04-10-2021-2446153_23.php |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>
Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the ]. Asked for a clarification by the French journal ''GQ France'', the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=] |edition=French |language=FR |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco|title = Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021044523/https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco |archive-date=2021-10-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (]) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of ] - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un/un-fires-central-africa-legal-adviser-who-accused-peacekeepers-of-massacre-idUSKCN1IW265 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre
|first=Aaron |last=Ross |date=May 31, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> He had been tasked as an independent expert for the ] with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fr.africanews.com/2018/05/31/centrafrique-la-minusca-expulse-un-expert-francais-qui-l-accuse-de-crimes |title=Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes |lang=fr |first=Carole |last=Kouassi |date=31 May 2018 |website=fr.africanews.com}}</ref>


⚫ == Personal legal cases ==
In September 2022, the investigating magistrates cleared Branco of all charges<ref name=":62">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=Affaire Griveaux : Juan Branco échappe à la justice… mais pas Piotr Pavlenski ni sa compagne |url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/police-et-justice/affaire-griveaux-juan-branco-echappe-a-la-justicemais-pas-piotr-pavlenski-ni-sa-compagne |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref> and in June 2023, the ] overturned the discipline imposed on Branco by the Paris Bar Association.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Justice. Affaire Griveaux: la cour d'appel de Paris annule un blâme infligé à l'avocat Juan Branco |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/faits-divers-justice/2023/06/09/la-cour-d-appel-de-paris-annule-un-blame-inflige-a-l-avocat-juan-branco |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.leprogres.fr |language=FR-fr}}</ref>
In April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of abusing her. She declared to the police she had felt threatened and coerced by Branco into a sexual relation while she was under the influence of a drug they had taken together.<ref>{{cite news |title="J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/02/enquete-pour-viol-contre-lavocat-juan-branco-son-accusatrice-revient-sur-les-faits-9521758.php |newspaper=ladepeche.fr |date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
Branco claimed the relation was consensual.
<ref>{{cite news |title=L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/04/30/l-avocat-juan-branco-vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol_6078680_3224.html |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |date=30 April 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Décugis |first1=Jean-Michel |title=Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol-lavocat-juan-branco-place-en-garde-a-vue-01-06-2021-EGEJ347CFZBKRCXVOID5IQJBPU.php |website=Le Parisien |date=June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
He has been put under official criminal investigation on the count of rape in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/info-le-point-juan-branco-mis-en-examen-pour-viol-24-11-2021-2453599_23.php |newspaper=lepoint.fr |date=24 November 2021}}</ref>


In 2023, a former employee of Branco sued him for moral harassment and infringement of French labor law. She revealed that Branco has his law firm in his mother’s apartment in a chic neighborhood of Paris, overburdened her with work in comparison to her work contract that she had to write herself, had her to meet with clients even though she never studied law, was reluctant to pay her at all and used a series of humiliating techniques when she wanted to leave and afterwards when she wanted to obtain the documents she was legally entitled to receive from him. She stated: "He presents himself as the defender of the widow and the orphan, but behind the scenes he exploits his employees. He has no limits." Branco tried to have her sued for "blackmail", accusing her to threaten him to share confidential documents, but the public attorney dismissed the case. ] commented: "A method typical of the lawyer's stunts: attacking first on social networks, the better to claim the lead in the story and pose as the atoning victim of imagined enemies." According to the former employee, Branco was often paranoid, like when in the morning he would announce that foreign intelligence services broke into his apartment to access his computers during the night. The Commission on harassment and discrimination of the Paris Bar Council will additionally make a disciplinary decision on this matter. Branco stated that the two interns at the firm during the same period have stated in writing that their working conditions were normal, which Liberation verified to be true.<ref>https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/au-cabinet-de-juan-branco-il-se-presente-en-defenseur-de-la-veuve-et-de-lorphelin-mais-derriere-il-exploite-ses-employes-20230712_QMON3PN7PFGGFO7P5CCETPEHKU/</ref>
=== Sonko affair ===
In 2023, he became the lawyer for ] opposition leader ], who was accused of ] by the Senegalese Tourism Minister.<ref name=":1822">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=L'avocat Juan Branco expulsé du Sénégal en marge d'un procès politique |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/l-avocat-juan-branco-expulse-du-senegal-en-marge-d-un-proces-politique-20230331 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Pourquoi Ousmane Sonko a choisi l'avocat français Juan Branco – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1429276/politique/pourquoi-ousmane-sonko-a-choisi-lavocat-francais-juan-branco/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> On 30 March, he was refused entry into the country by the police at ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Expulsion de Juan Branco du Sénégal : l'art et l'absence de manière ? – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1432013/politique/expulsion-de-juan-branco-du-senegal-lart-et-labsence-de-maniere/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/RFI |date=2023-03-31 |title=Juan Branco, avocat d'Ousmane Sonko, n'était pas le bienvenu au pays de la Teranga |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230331-juan-branco-avocat-d-ousmane-sonko-n-%C3%A9tait-pas-le-bienvenu-au-pays-de-la-teranga |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref>


In July 2023, the French government sued Juan Branco for putting in life danger French civil servants in Senegal. In the wake of the turmoil in ] around the politician ], Branco had accused two French civil servants of ], mentioning them by name, before disclosing the personal details of one of them, such as his telephone number or personnel number. Juan Branco also named five other agents in his complaint.<ref>https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848</ref>
On 22 June, Juan Branco filed a complaint in France and also called for the ] to investigate Senegalese officials for "]", including President ], his interior minister and the commander of the gendarmerie, as well as 119 suspects throughout the chain of command.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-23 |title=Sénégal : Juan Branco, l'avocat d'Ousmane Sonko, accuse le pouvoir de « crimes contre l'humanité » |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/06/23/senegal-juan-branco-l-avocat-d-ousmane-sonko-accuse-le-pouvoir-de-crimes-contre-l-humanite_6178914_3212.html |access-date=2023-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/RFI |date=2023-06-22 |title=Sénégal: plainte en France et demande d'enquête à la CPI contre Macky Sall pour «crimes contre l'humanité» |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230622-s%C3%A9n%C3%A9gal-plainte-en-france-et-demande-d-enqu%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-la-cpi-contre-macky-sall-pour-crimes-contre-l-humanit%C3%A9 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref> The 168-page document, which contained more than 600 pieces of evidence and detailed 50 deaths in Senegal since March 2021, came in the wake of ] sparked by criminal charges against Sonko that critics said were politically motivated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=Senegal opposition leader Sonko's lawyer files a lawsuit in France and calls for an ICC inquiry |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/senegal-opposition-leader-sonkos-lawyer-files-lawsuit-france-100318676 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>


== Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages ==
On 12 July 2023, the ] sued Juan Branco for allegedly endangering the lives of French officials in Senegal, whose identities he revealed when accusing them of crimes against humanity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title=INFO EUROPE 1 - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères porte plainte contre Juan Branco |url=https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a déposé des signalements contre l’avocat Juan Branco |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-a-depose-des-signalements-contre-l-avocat-juan-branco-20230713 |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref> Three days later, ] issued an ] against Branco.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-14 |title=Le Sénégal lance un mandat d’arrêt international contre l’avocat français Juan Branco pour des « crimes et délits » |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/07/14/le-senegal-lance-un-mandat-d-arret-international-contre-l-avocat-francais-juan-branco-pour-des-crimes-et-delits_6182023_3212.html |access-date=2023-07-17}}</ref>
Juan Branco has been editing his own ] pages for many years, attempting to embellish his biography. He makes his edits under multiple identities, using what are known as ]. He has also edited articles of others to "settle accounts" by portraying them in a negative light.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/sur-wikipedia-les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco-20200221 |title = Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco|date = 21 February 2020}}</ref>


He once wrote a threatening letter to the employer of another Misplaced Pages editor, pretending to be a "Misplaced Pages administrator" named "Addas Karadas" and threatening legal action.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637| title= Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref>
== Publications ==


== Bibliography ==
* ''Réponses à Hadopi'' (Paris, Capricci, 2011, {{ISBN|978-2918040255}})<ref></ref> * ''Réponses à Hadopi'' (Paris, Capricci, 2011, {{ISBN|978-2918040255}})<ref></ref>
* ''De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global: Un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale'' (Paris, 2015, LGDJ-IUV, 2015, {{ISBN|978-2370320582}})<ref></ref> * ''De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global: Un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale'' (Paris, 2015, LGDJ-IUV, 2015, {{ISBN|978-2370320582}})<ref></ref>
* ''L'ordre et le monde'' (Paris, Fayard, 2016, {{ISBN|978-2213680880}}), edited by ] and ]<ref></ref> * ''L'ordre et le monde'' (Paris, Fayard, 2016, {{ISBN|978-2213680880}}), edited by ] and ]<ref></ref>
* ''D'après une image de Daesh'' (Paris, Lignes, 2017, {{ISBN|978-2-35526-164-0}})<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title=Editorial description |url=https://www.editions-lignes.com/D-APRES-UNE-IMAGE-DE-DAESH.html}}</ref> * ''D'après une image de Daesh'' (Paris, Lignes, 2017, {{ISBN|978-2-35526-164-0}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.editions-lignes.com/D-APRES-UNE-IMAGE-DE-DAESH.html|title=Editorial description|date=2020-02-25}}</ref>
* ''Contre Macron'' (Edition Divergence, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1097088125}}) *''Contre Macron'' (Edition Divergence, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1097088125}})
* '']'' (Paris, Au Diable Vauvert, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1030702606}}) * ''Crépuscule'' (Paris, Au Diable Vauvert, 2019) {{ISBN|979-1030702606}}
* ''Assange, l'antisouverain'' (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2020, {{ISBN|978-2204133074}}) * ''Assange, l'antisouverain'' (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2020) {{ISBN|978-2204133074}}
* ''La République ne vous appartient pas : Discours à polytechnique'', (Paris, Au diable vauvert, 2020, 110 <abbr>p.,</abbr> {{ISBN|979-10-307-0379-5}})
* ''Abattre l'ennemi'' (Éditions Michel Lafon, 2021, {{ISBN|978-2-7499-4697-9}})
* ''Treize pillards (''Au diable vauvert, 2022, 112 <abbr>p.,</abbr> {{ISBN|979-1030705072}})
* ''Luttes'' (Michel Lafon, 2022, {{Isbn|978-2749949550}})
* ''Coup d'état'' (Au diable vauvert, 2023, {{ISBN|979-10-307-0625-3}})
* ''Hanouna'' (Au diable vauvert, 2023, {{ISBN|979-1030706246}})


== References == == References ==
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Revision as of 20:39, 17 July 2023

French-Spanish political activist, writer and lawyer
Juan Branco
Juan Branco in 2019
Born1989
Estepona, Andalusia,
Spain
NationalityFrench, Spanish
EducationÉcole normale supérieure (Paris)
OccupationLawyer
Parents

Juan Branco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko], French: [bʁɑ̃ko], Portuguese: [ˈbɾɐ̃ko]) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer.

He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book Crépuscule, critical of French President Emmanuel Macron, and in early 2020, with his involvement in the Griveaux affair. He has been a supporter of the Yellow vests movement.

Early life and education

Branco was born in 1989 in Estepona, near Málaga. He is the son of film producer Paulo Branco.

He went to the École alsacienne, an elite private high school in Paris. He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like Catherine Deneuve.

He studied as undergraduate at Sciences Po and as graduate and PhD student at the École normale supérieure, where he was admitted without passing the entrance exam.

In 2013, he assisted to a horse race in the desert at the invite of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.

He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.

Political activity

As a student, Branco actively supported former right-wing Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a friend of his mother's.

Afterwards he supported The Greens (France) and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President François Hollande (Socialist Party). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election.

Branco then joined the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise. He stood in the 2017 French legislative election for Seine-Saint-Denis's 12th constituency where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss". After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of La France Insoumise in the 2019 European Parliament election in France his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.

He became a vocal supporter of the Yellow vests movement, some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle, and a critic of President of France Emmanuel Macron thereafter.

In 2018 he outed the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Twitter.

Crépuscule

Branco's book Crépuscule, in which he criticized the French president Emmanuel Macron, was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.

Legal advice and representations

He was in 2015 the legal advisor by WikiLeaks and met with Julian Assange, trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.

Branco passed the bar in 2017, and, in 2019, have had 3 clients in two years, including his father, and was receiving welfare assistance (Revenu de solidarité active) during that time.

He has represented his father Paulo Branco and won his case against Terry Gilliam in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote case.

In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the Mila affair cyberbullying case.

Griveaux affair

In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist Petr Pavlensky both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting Benjamin Griveaux, then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Juan Branco was himself involved in the leak, a criminal offense under French law. This was denied by Branco.

Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.

After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance". Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more. Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".

In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings are being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.

Controversial claims

Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She describes him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful", as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".

In 2016 he solicited Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the group directly involved in the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015 (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing Julian Assange. As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.

In 2018, L'Express stated that Branco is making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told L'Express that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school do. He also claimed "never having created a Skyblog", but L'Express provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").

Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Asked for a clarification by the French journal GQ France, the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".

In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of Bangui - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country. He had been tasked as an independent expert for the United Nations with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.

Personal legal cases

In April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of abusing her. She declared to the police she had felt threatened and coerced by Branco into a sexual relation while she was under the influence of a drug they had taken together. Branco claimed the relation was consensual. He has been put under official criminal investigation on the count of rape in November 2021.

In 2023, a former employee of Branco sued him for moral harassment and infringement of French labor law. She revealed that Branco has his law firm in his mother’s apartment in a chic neighborhood of Paris, overburdened her with work in comparison to her work contract that she had to write herself, had her to meet with clients even though she never studied law, was reluctant to pay her at all and used a series of humiliating techniques when she wanted to leave and afterwards when she wanted to obtain the documents she was legally entitled to receive from him. She stated: "He presents himself as the defender of the widow and the orphan, but behind the scenes he exploits his employees. He has no limits." Branco tried to have her sued for "blackmail", accusing her to threaten him to share confidential documents, but the public attorney dismissed the case. Liberation commented: "A method typical of the lawyer's stunts: attacking first on social networks, the better to claim the lead in the story and pose as the atoning victim of imagined enemies." According to the former employee, Branco was often paranoid, like when in the morning he would announce that foreign intelligence services broke into his apartment to access his computers during the night. The Commission on harassment and discrimination of the Paris Bar Council will additionally make a disciplinary decision on this matter. Branco stated that the two interns at the firm during the same period have stated in writing that their working conditions were normal, which Liberation verified to be true.

In July 2023, the French government sued Juan Branco for putting in life danger French civil servants in Senegal. In the wake of the turmoil in Senegal around the politician Ousmane Sonko, Branco had accused two French civil servants of crime against humanity, mentioning them by name, before disclosing the personal details of one of them, such as his telephone number or personnel number. Juan Branco also named five other agents in his complaint.

Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages

Juan Branco has been editing his own Misplaced Pages pages for many years, attempting to embellish his biography. He makes his edits under multiple identities, using what are known as sockpuppets. He has also edited articles of others to "settle accounts" by portraying them in a negative light.

He once wrote a threatening letter to the employer of another Misplaced Pages editor, pretending to be a "Misplaced Pages administrator" named "Addas Karadas" and threatening legal action.

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie". 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule" (in French). 18 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  3. ^ Tabet (March 2020). "Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco". Le Parisien (in French) (23487): 20–23.
  4. "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". 7 May 2019.
  5. "Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain". 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?" (in French). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  7. "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue" (in French). Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  8. "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". Franceinfo (in French). 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-06-30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels" (in French). 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  10. "Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune".
  11. ""Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco". 11 May 2019.
  12. ""Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"". 26 April 2019.
  13. ""Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis". 6 June 2019.
  14. "Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco". 25 April 2019.
  15. "Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?". Le Temps. 17 April 2019.
  16. 2015 NSA Espionnage revelations
  17. ^ "Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco". 17 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco". 29 April 2019.
  19. "Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'". Screen. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  20. "France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam". Associated Press. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  21. "Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco". lepoint.fr (in French). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  22. "France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  23. "Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris". 29 February 2020.
  24. "Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski". lepoint.fr (in French). 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  25. "Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux". LExpress.fr (in French). 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  26. "Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco". LePoint.fr (in French). 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  27. "L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco". nouvelobs.com (in French). 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  28. "Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam". valeursactuelles.com. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020..
  29. "Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller". rtl.fr. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020..
  30. ""C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat". marianne.net. 25 February 2020..
  31. "Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?". GQ (in French) (French ed.). 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21.
  32. Ross, Aaron (May 31, 2018). "U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre". Reuters.
  33. Kouassi, Carole (31 May 2018). "Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes". fr.africanews.com (in French).
  34. ""J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol". ladepeche.fr. 2 May 2021.
  35. "L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol". Le Monde.fr. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  36. Décugis, Jean-Michel (June 2021). "Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue". Le Parisien. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  37. "Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol". lepoint.fr. 24 November 2021.
  38. https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/au-cabinet-de-juan-branco-il-se-presente-en-defenseur-de-la-veuve-et-de-lorphelin-mais-derriere-il-exploite-ses-employes-20230712_QMON3PN7PFGGFO7P5CCETPEHKU/
  39. https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848
  40. "Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco". 21 February 2020.
  41. "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue".
  42. Library of the Congress
  43. BNF reference
  44. Editorial description of L'ordre et le monde
  45. "Editorial description". 2020-02-25.
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