Once the front-runner in France's presidential election, mainstream conservative candidate Francois Fillon is now confronting serious doubts he will even make it to the final round of voting. That uncertainty only deepened for the scandal-plagued politician Tuesday, as French authorities officially announced they are investigating Fillon on allegations he illegally diverted public money. Officials filed preliminary charges against Fillon in a probe of the publicly funded jobs arranged for his wife and children — jobs they allegedly never did. Citing the national financial prosecutor's office, The Associated Press reports Fillon is "accused of misusing public funds, receiving money from the misuse of public funds, complicity in misusing public funds and improper declaration of assets, among other charges." "Under French law, being put under formal investigation means there is 'serious or consistent evidence' that points to probable involvement in a crime," The Guardian notes . "It is a