In 2021, the journalist Florence Porcel had filed a complaint against Patrick Poivre d’Arvoraccusing him of two rapes. Since then, a judicial investigation has been opened against the former TF1 presenter. And, as revealed BFMTV, the 76-year-old journalist was finally indicted, this Monday, December 18. Information which was then confirmed by the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office to AFP. According to our colleagues, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, who benefits from the presumption of innocencehas been indicted for fellatio imposed on Florence Porcel, in 2009. Concerning the second rape, which allegedly occurred in the presenter’s office at TF1, in 2004, he was placed under the status of assisted witness.
In a press release sent by his lawyers, Jacqueline Laffont and Julie Benedetti, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor again denied the facts. “Mr Poivre d’Arvor firmly contests the facts alleged by Madame Porcel as he has done since the first day and has produced numerous material elements contradicting them”, indicated the lawyers. Since he was accused, the journalist has also often mentioned “obsession” of the complainant against him, by way of defense.
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Patrick Poivre d’Arvor affair: a first investigation closed without further action in 2021
As a reminder, a preliminary investigation for the same facts had already been opened in February 2021. The journalist Florence Porcel had released the words of twenty-two other women who had testified about rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment. However, the case was closed without further action, because the facts denounced were time-barred. At the same time, Catherine Denis, the public prosecutor at the Nanterre judicial court, then explained, in reference to the accusation of fellatio brought by Florence Porcel, that “these facts […] cannot characterize the crime of rape insofar as there is no element to confirm the statements of one or the other concerning the existence of this scene”. Florence Porcel had therefore filed a complaint again, to obtain the opening of a new investigation carried out by investigating judges.
Article written in collaboration with 6Medias.
Photo credits: CYRIL MOREAU / BESTIMAGE