France: Minister Damien Abad under investigation for attempted rape

Minister Damien Abad, in charge of Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities, at the Elysee Palace, May 23, 2022. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

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The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation against the French Minister of Solidarity, following a complaint filed Monday against the latter, Damien Abad, for attempted rape.

This investigation opens a new stage in what can now be called “the Abad affair”.

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Until then, there were only accusations and no complaints against the brand new Minister of Solidarity.

Since joining the government team, Damien Abad had been accused of rape or attempted rape by several women, according to the online newspaper

.

But, here, a complaint filed Monday, by one of them, a former elected centrist, changes the situation.

The complaint relates to acts not prescribed which would have been committed in 2010, and which are qualified by the Paris prosecutor's office as an attempted rape.

Complaint against Damien Abad: an investigation has been opened for attempted rape, according to the Paris prosecutor's office requested by #AFP pic.twitter.com/9d94LToWYP

— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) June 29, 2022

The complainant, who at the time of the events was president of a federation of the New Center youth movement, accuses Damien Abad, then a European deputy of this movement, of having attempted to sexually assault her at a party organized in Paris.

The Minister of Solidarity disputes these accusations again, and also announces that he is filing a complaint for slanderous denunciation.

►To re-read: Damien Abad, first thorn in the first Council of Ministers of the Borne government

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