Targeted by a complaint for acts of sexual assault dating from 2013, the political journalist was excluded “temporarily” from his broadcasts on BFMTV and RMC.
While the Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for sexual assault, and many political guests are canceling their participation in his morning interview, the star presenter Jean-Jacques Bourdin has been suspended from the antennas of BFMTV and RMC. “This temporary withdrawal from the antenna will make it possible to avoid political and media manipulation of this affair”, explained the Altice Media group in a press release, published on Sunday January 23 and relayed by theAFP.
The Complainant, journalist and ex-collaborator of Jean-Jacques Bourdin, dsets out facts of sexual assault dating back to October 2013. During a business trip to Calvi (Haute-Corse), while she was swimming one morning in the swimming pool of their hotel, Jean-Jacques Bourdin would have joined her. He would then have tried to kiss her several times by force, grabbing her by the neck while she no longer had her feet. The political interviewer would then have said to him: “I always get what I want”.
A “temporary” withdrawal, but above all “at the request of management”
Since the revelation of this complaint by Le Parisien, Saturday January 15, Jean-Jacques Bourdin, has repeatedly challenged the facts, especially during the launch of his new political program, France in the eyes, last Tuesday. His guest, the Republican presidential candidate, Valerie Pécresse, took the opportunity to focus on sexual violence by ensuring that “the law of silence is over”. The environmentalist candidate, Yannick Jadot preferred to cancel his scheduled interview with the journalist.
Upon revelation of the case, Altice Media has launched an internal investigation “We are following any developments in this case with the greatest attention and we will take all the measures that may be necessary depending on its evolution“, assures the group in its press release. From tomorrow, the political interview at 8:30 a.m. will be provided by Apolline de Malherbe and the program France in the eyes by Bruce Toussaint. Bourdin is therefore on the sidelines: a “temporary” withdrawal, but above all “at the request of management”, adds the Altice Media group. Case to follow.