A judicial investigation has been opened against Damien Abad, the subject of charges of rape and attempted rape which he “strongly contests”, the former minister said in a press release on Friday. The former minister was heard on June 7 in police custody, from which he emerged free the same evening.
A judicial investigation has been opened against Damien Abad, the subject of charges of rape and attempted rape which he “strongly contests”, the former minister said in a press release on Friday. The deputy of Ain specifies that he “has been informed by the prosecution of the opening of a judicial investigation”. “Following this, Damien Abad wishes to be heard quickly by the investigating magistrate in order to defend himself against despicable accusations, which he strongly contests”, underlines the press release.
This judicial investigation was opened on June 21 against him for charges of rape and attempted rape, a judicial source confirmed to AFP. In his press release, Damien Abad “recalls that an initial in-depth investigation was the subject of a particularly reasoned closing without follow-up. Moreover, the confrontation requested by the investigators following the hearing of Damien Abad and with the agreement of the latter, never took place”. The former minister was heard on June 7 in police custody, from which he emerged free the same evening.
The file now entrusted to an investigating judge
Justice had requested two weeks earlier the lifting of his parliamentary immunity as part of the preliminary investigation in Paris. Damien Abad had said himself “in favor” and the immunity had been lifted unanimously by the office of the National Assembly. With the opening of a judicial investigation, it is an examining magistrate who is in charge of the case. The former head of LR deputies was appointed in May 2022 Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities, taken from President Emmanuel Macron on the right.
The day after his appointment, Mediapart relayed accusations of rape against him, dating from 2010 and 2011. The complaints were closed in 2012 then 2017. But at the end of June 2022, a complaint was once again filed, leading to the opening of the preliminary investigation. Damien Abad had finally left the executive at the beginning of July 2022. Re-elected in the meantime deputy for a third term, he has since been discreet at the Palais Bourbon.