Is this the end of a politically embarrassing affair for the government? It is in any case a new legal victory for Gérald Darmanin against the accusations of rape formulated since 2017 by Sophie Patterson-Spatz. The investigating judge in charge of investigating these accusations ordered the dismissal in favor of the Minister of the Interior.
The decision is still likely to be the subject of an appeal by the complainant, but the dismissal of the case rendered by the courts on July 8th puts a provisional end to a very politically sensitive file.
Good news for the majority in power, after the accusations of rape against Damien Abad, ephemeral Minister of Solidarity, who did not survive the reshuffle which followed the legislative elections.
Good news especially for Gérald Darmanin. ” For the fourth time in five years, justice says no wrongdoing can be blamed on him “, welcomed this Monday the lawyers of the Minister of the Interior.
Since 2017, the tenant of Place Beauvau had been the subject of a complaint for rape, sexual harassment and breach of trust, filed by Sophie Patterson-Spatz for facts dating back to 2009. The investigation had been closed twice by the prosecution and a first investigating judge had not followed up before it was reopened by a new judge in 2020.
Placed under the status of assisted witness, Gérald Darmanin had been confronted with the complainant for 9 hours in March 2021, without this encouraging the investigators to move towards an indictment. It is a dismissal which is finally returned, in accordance with the requisitions of the prosecution last January.
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