Core Points - The trial regarding online harassment against France's First Lady Brigitte Macron commenced, with 10 defendants accused of spreading false rumors about her being a "transgender" and a "pedophile" [1] - If found guilty, the defendants could face up to two years in prison [1] Group 1: Defendants and Allegations - The 10 defendants include 8 men and 2 women, aged between 41 and 65, with various professions such as advertisers, gallery owners, teachers, and computer experts [3] - A notable defendant, Amandine Roy, claimed online that "Brigitte Macron never existed; she is actually her brother Jean-Michel," which has circulated widely among far-right groups in France and the U.S. [3] - Roy was initially convicted of defamation but had her conviction overturned by an appeals court, leading Brigitte to file another appeal [3] Group 2: Impact and Reactions - Brigitte Macron expressed that the rumors have negatively affected her and her family, stating that even her grandchildren have heard the false claims [3] - The Macron couple filed 22 defamation lawsuits against Candace Owens in the U.S. for spreading similar rumors through a series of videos [4] - Emmanuel Macron criticized the fabricated narratives, emphasizing the danger of false information being accepted as truth [4]

Group 1 - A New York state man, Shane Daley, was arrested for allegedly leaving threatening voicemails for Paulette Thompson, the widow of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, following his murder [1][5] - The voicemails contained profanity and threats, expressing anger towards the healthcare industry and accusing Brian Thompson of exploiting poor Americans [2][5] - Brian Thompson was killed on December 4, 2023, as he was about to attend an investor conference, and Luigi Mangione has been charged with his murder [3][5] Group 2 - The FBI linked Daley to the threatening messages through his personal cellphone number, which was recorded during the calls to Paulette's work line [6] - Daley initially denied making the threatening calls when confronted by law enforcement, but his voice was recognized by an FBI agent [7]