Sunday, June 29, 2025 - French Senator Joel Guerriau has been ordered to stand trial over allegations that he drugged a fellow parliamentary deputy, Sandrine Josso, with the intent to s3xually ass@ult her, AFP confirmed on Friday, June 27, citing a source close to the case.
The decision was made by two investigating magistrates, who
concluded their inquiry into the incident, which allegedly occurred in November
2023. According to the judges’ report seen by AFP, Guerriau, 67, is suspected
of lacing a glass of champagne with MDMA (ecstasy) that Josso, now 49,
consumed. The report alleges that his motive was to rape or s3xually ass@ult
her.
In addition to the primary charges, Guerriau will also face
trial for drug possession.
The development was first reported by France 2’s
investigative programme Complément d’enquête. Guerriau, a member of
the French Senate since 2011, was suspended by the Horizons party, led by
former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, shortly after he was charged in late
2023.
“Joel Guerriau contests the allegations against him,” said
his lawyers Henri Carpentier and Marie Roumiantseva in a statement. They
maintained that their client has “no fear of the truth,” and asserted that the
trial would allow the facts to emerge “far from the caricatures and rumours put
about until now.”
Sandrine Josso’s legal counsel, Arnaud Godefroy, described
the court’s decision as a moment of validation, stating that it “reflects the
seriousness of her complaint.” Guerriau has denied intending to assault Josso,
claiming that the incident resulted from a “handling error,” rather than
deliberate action.
The case has drawn attention in France, where recent
high-profile legal proceedings have intensified scrutiny of s3xual v!olence and
drug-facilitated assaults. It follows the 2023 conviction of Dominique Pelicot,
who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for repeatedly drugging his wife so
that he and others could r@pe her, a case that attracted international
headlines.
The senator’s indictment also comes amid legislative efforts
in France to strengthen protections against s3xual vi0lence. Earlier this
month, the French Senate passed a bill that would define rape as any s3xual act
without consent, aligning the country’s legal framework with several other
European nations, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
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