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.
