Pontaut is the author of several books in collaboration, including a book on the
affaire des écoutes de l'Élysée [
fr] (Les Oreilles du Président) and another on the
affaire Clearstream Affair cowritten with
Gilles Gaetner (Règlement de comptes à l’Élysée). The former Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin lodged a complaint against him for defamation. The trial set for 21 and 22 June 2007, was postponed, Jean-Marie Pontaut having called as witnesses
Jean-Louis Gergorin,
Imad Lahoud [
fr] and
Denis Robert, charged in the criminal part of the Clearstream affair, as well as General
Philippe Rondot. It is now time for the criminal investigation to be completed and the case finally decided, which can take years.
Career
From 1970 to 1972, he was a reporter for the weekly Paris Match. From 1972 to July 1984, he was a reporter and head of inquiry at the weekly newspaper Le Point, in charge of judicial and police files. In September 1981, he became a member of the study commission of the Ministry of the Interior on the police. From July 1984 to November 1984, he was head of the society department of the weekly Le Point. From November 1984 to September 1986, he became a senior reporter for the weekly L'Express, and from September 1986 to August 1987, became head of the newspaper company's service department, where he became deputy editor-in-chief and head of the investigations section, from August 1987 to December 1988. From December 1988 to July 1995, he remained deputy editor-in-charge of the weekly newspaper Le Point, in charge of investigations at the service "Nation" and editor in chief of investigations. From September 1995 to February 1996, he was Deputy Editor-in-Chief of
Europe 1, where he also presented the weekly investigations magazine Témoin n°1. Since April 1996, he has been editor (investigations) of the weekly L'Express.
Prizes and distinctions
1987: Prix de la foundation Mumm.
1993: Prix Radio-France Nancy-Lorraine de la communication pour Investigation, passion.
1993: Investigation, Passion - Enquête sur 30 ans d'affaires, in collaboration with Jacques Derogy, Fayard,
ISBN2213030316
1994: Enquête sur les ripoux de la Côte - De l'affaire Médecin au meurtre de Yann Piat, in collaboration with Jacques Derogy, Fayard,
ISBN2213592845
1995: Agent secrète, in collaboration with
Dominique Prieur, Fayard
1996: Les Oreilles du Président, suivi de la liste des 2000 personnes "écoutées" par François Mitterrand, in collaboration with
Jérôme Dupuis [
fr], Fayard,
ISBN978-2213595368
1997: Enquête sur l'agent
Hernu, cowritten with Jérôme Dupuis, Fayard