Who knew?
This is the question that many politicians are asking themselves as the Damien Abad affair poisons the first days of the government of Elisabeth Borne.
Appointed last Friday Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities, the deputy of Ain has been in the spotlight since Saturday.
An article from
Mediapart
implicates him for acts of sexual violence against two women, whose complaints were dismissed in 2012 and 2017. According to information from BFMTV and France Info on Tuesday evening, the services of the new Prime Minister would have been informed of the second complaint by emails sent Friday evening and Saturday morning by the journalist of Médiapart at the origin of the investigation.
Messages that would have been consulted by the entourage of Elisabeth Borne before the publication of the article on Saturday evening.
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A few hours later, Sunday in the day, the new head of government, campaigning in Calvados, had replied.
“
Obviously, I was not aware (...).
I have no more elements than the fact that the case has been dismissed
, “said Élisabeth Borne at the time.
Before raising his voice: “
I will be very clear.
On all these subjects of harassment, sexual assault, there can be no impunity.
The government spokeswoman, Olivia Grégoire, had also confirmed Monday at the exit of the Council of Ministers that the Prime Minister and Damien Abad had spoken on Sunday evening on this subject.
Read alsoÉlisabeth Borne seeks to comfort a majority plagued by doubt
According to BFMTV, the Élysée would also have been made aware of the complaint dating from 2017, before the appointment of the former boss of the LR group to the National Assembly.
The Palace would not have heard of the details of the case or the facts of which Damien Abad was accused.
In a statement from his constituency of Ain on Monday evening, the latter had firmly denied these accusations while ruling out a departure from the government:
“Should an innocent man resign?
I do not believe."
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