Ex-minister Damien Abad, accused of rape, announces ‘opening of judicial investigation’ against him

Former minister Damien Abad, who faces rape charges which he “strongly disputes,” announced on Friday that he “has been informed by prosecutors that a judicial investigation has been opened” against him. His announcement follows the publication of an article by our Mediapart colleagues announcing this information.

Deputy Aina states in a press release that he “desires (r) to be heard by the investigating judge in order to defend himself against the heinous allegations, which he vigorously disputes.” On June 21, a court investigation was launched against him on charges of rape and attempted rape, a court source confirmed to AFP.

Damien Abad’s parliamentary immunity was lifted on May 24 at the request of justice, made as part of the preliminary investigation in Paris. The politician previously stated in a press release that he “wants to be heard by justice, like any other citizen, and this under any regime.”

This immunity protects parliamentarians from any coercive action (police detention or judicial review), except for crimes, gross offenses or final convictions, but does not prevent charges from being brought.

Abad condemns “vile slanders”

“From the very beginning of the preliminary investigation, I have always said that I am at the disposal of justice in order to be able to answer the questions of the investigators and thus confirm my innocence in the face of the heinous slander of which I am the object. “, – Aina’s deputy, who is associated with the Renaissance group, assured then.

This allegation of attempted rape came the day after he was appointed to the government in May 2022, when Mediapart aired allegations of rape and attempted rape against him dating back to 2010 and 2011. Complaints were closed in 2012 and again in 2017. At the end of June 2022, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation into the “attempted rape” after a new complaint was filed.

In their accounts, the alleged victims accused Ain’s deputy of drugging them or attempting to do so. One of them claimed that he then tried to force her into oral sex, the other said that he woke up in a hotel room with Damien Abad. The former deputy, in turn, filed a complaint against the slanderous denunciation.