Paris’s prosecutor is refusing to open a preliminary investigation into the allegations of sexual violence against Damien Abad, the Minister of Solidarity, because it doesn’t have an “element allowing for the identification of victims of the facts denounced”, he stated on Wednesday, May 25.
“As it stands, Paris’s prosecutor’s office doesn’t follow up on the mail sent by the Observatory of Sexist and Sexual Violence” which contained the testimony of two women who accuse Damien Abad of having raped them. “The prosecution stated that there was not enough evidence to allow the prosecution to “identify the victim of these facts and therefore lack of possibility of proceeding with his detailed hearing.”
The Paris public prosecutor’s Office has reaffirmed its criminal policy in relation to sexual violence over the years. An investigation is opened whenever a minor victim is mentioned. This is especially to verify that there aren’t any other victims. The prosecution can only open an investigation if there is a complaint from the victim.
Mediapart broadcast two testimonies by two women who accused the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Disabled People, of raping them in 2010 and 2011, one day after the government of Elisabeth Borne was appointed. One of the women, who confirmed her story to AFP in 2012, went to a station to testify and then filed a complaint.
On Sunday, the prosecution indicated that a first complaint for acts of sexual rape had been dismissed by the complainant on April 6, 2012. This was due to his failure to act. “Same facts” was the basis for a second complaint, which was dropped on December 5, 2017, due to “sufficiently severe infringement.” Damien Abad, who did not intend to resign on Monday, stated that “I have never raped any woman in my entire life.” “Should an innocent person resign?” He said, “I don’t believe so.”
According to the ex-head of the LR deputies, arthrogryposis is a rare congenital neuromuscular disorder from which he suffers.
The revelations of sexual violence against Damien Abad, who was the main prize in war in post-presidential Macronia, have disrupted the beginnings of the government of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term. The opposition and feminist organizations are receiving more calls for resignation. Olivia Gregoire, the new spokeswoman for the government, stated Monday that justice is the only one who can or must decide after the first council meeting of ministers.
