These are several overwhelming cases for Nicolas Hulot, which sow embarrassment to the top of the State. The environmental activist is targeted by accusations of sexual assault and rape, which he denies, following the broadcast of a report, Thursday, November 25, in the program “Special Envoy”, on France 2. Three women, including a minor at the time of the facts, claim to have been the object of caresses, kisses by surprise or attempted forced fellatio by the former television host. These facts, which would have taken place between 1989 and 2001, are reported by two women, Sylvia and Cécile, speaking with their faces uncovered, and by a third, anonymous, who claims to be an ex-collaborator.
The investigation, which is the result of four years of work, also includes the testimony of environmental activist Claire Nouvian, who notably mentions ” a dysfunction ” by Nicolas Hulot “In his relations with women” and reports having suffered an attempted kiss in 2008. In two letters sent to France 2, the host Maureen Dor and another woman employed at the time at TF1 recount having also been sexually assaulted by Mr. Hulot.
These multiple accusations led to the opening of a preliminary investigation for rape and sexual assault, Friday, November 26, by the Paris prosecutor’s office, in order to “To determine if the facts denounced can characterize a criminal offense and if, in view of their seniority, the prescription of the public action is acquired”.
As of Wednesday evening, Mr. Hulot had taken the lead by formally denying these accusations on BFM-TV, while announcing to leave ” definitively “ public life, to protect loved ones and foundation from the fallout from “Lynching”.
Since the dissemination of the testimonies of these women, the affair has taken a political turn. Opposition members and feminist activists accuse the executive of recklessly defending the former minister of ecological transition, in February 2018, when the magazine Ebdo, who has since disappeared, had already revealed the existence of a complaint for rape, filed in 2008 against him by Pascale Mitterrand, granddaughter of François Mitterrand. The case was dismissed because the facts were time-barred.
In 2018, a guilty attitude of the government
Emmanuel Macron then gave his support to Mr. Hulot, during the Council of Ministers, by calling on him to “Hold” in “A difficult time”, had reported the former Minister of the Interior Gérard Collomb. No expression of compassion for the victim. “The president took this with a calm serenity”, had indicated Bruno-Roger Petit, then spokesperson for the Head of State. Assuming the maintenance of his minister in government, Mr. Macron went so far as to warn against an excess of checks and balances and a “Republic of suspicion”.
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