UK prime minister candidate Boris Johnson to face charges he lied to public during Brexit

Boris Johnson, the leading candidate to replace Theresa May as British prime minister, has been ordered to appear in court over accusations that he lied to the public in promoting the 2016 Brexit campaign, according to CNN.

A judge at London’s Westminister Magistrates Court said Johnson must answer a private summons on three counts of misconduct in public office.

{mosads}The allegations specifically relate to claims by Johnson, a former British foreign secretary and high-profile supporter of leaving the European Union, that membership in the EU cost Britain 350 million pounds ($442 million) a week. The figure appeared on a bus that toured Britain leading up to the referendum, which was 52 percent in favor of leaving the EU.

Marcus Ball, who lodged the summons, accused Johnson of misleading the public by repeating the claim during both the lead-up to the referendum and during the 2017 general election. A lawyer for Johnson denied the allegation at an earlier hearing.

CNN reports that Ball, in his application, said that Johnson “knew that such comments were false or misleading” and that he had previously used “accurate figures and showed a clear understanding of how to quantify UK spending in respect of the EU.”

A judge said that she was “satisfied this is a proper case.”

“Having considered all the relevant factors I am satisfied that this is a proper case to issue the summons as requested for the three offenses as drafted,” wrote Judge Margot Coleman. “This means the proposed defendant will be required to attend this court for a preliminary hearing, and the case will then be sent to the Crown Court for trial.”

Johnson has been widely cited as one of the most likely candidates to succeed May, who announced last week she will resign amid repeated failures to pass a deal through Parliament to leave the EU. The Brexit Party, founded by Nigel Farage, another major figure in the campaign to leave the EU, saw major successes in last week’s European parliamentary elections, winning more seats than either the British Conservative or Labour parties.