French labor minister cleared in heiress case

A French financial inspection agency said Sunday that a beleaguered government minister did not intervene in the tax affairs of the heiress to the L'Oreal beauty empire, who is at the center of a snowballing scandal that has destabilized the government.

Labor Minister Eric Woerth still faces pointed questions about the multifaceted scandal - which include allegations of illegal party financing and questions about possible tax evasion - and about his links to the 87-year-old heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. (AP)