A former French senator is facing trial in Paris this week over shocking allegations that he drugged a fellow lawmaker with MDMA in order to sexually assault her. The case has drawn national attention to the issue of drug-facilitated assault within France's political corridors and echoes a landmark trial that previously rocked the country.
Charges and Allegations in the High-Profile Case
Joël Guerriau, 68, stands accused of secretly administering a discernment-altering substance with the intent to commit rape or sexual assault, alongside charges of drug use and possession. The prosecution alleges that the former senator spiked a glass of champagne with MDMA before serving it to parliament member Sandrine Josso during what she believed was a celebration of his re-election.
According to Josso's testimony, she began experiencing severe symptoms shortly after consuming the drink at Guerriau's Paris apartment. "I had heart palpitations. I had never experienced all these horrible symptoms where I felt like I was going to have a cardiac arrest," the centrist lawmaker described to French media. She reported noticing a small packet in Guerriau's hand before leaving the apartment and taking a taxi to hospital, where blood tests confirmed the presence of MDMA.
Defence Arguments and Political Fallout
Guerriau's legal team has presented an alternative narrative, arguing their client made a "handling error" that led to the accidental contamination of Josso's drink. They acknowledge he possessed MDMA at home while suffering from depression, claiming he had prepared the drugged glass for himself the previous day but mistakenly offered it to his guest instead.
The former senator remained in his position for nearly two years following the charges despite mounting political pressure, eventually resigning in October while insisting the decision was unrelated to legal proceedings. If convicted, Guerriau faces severe penalties including up to five years imprisonment for drugging to commit sexual assault and an additional decade for drug possession.
Broader Context and Legislative Impact
This trial occurs against the backdrop of France's evolving legal landscape regarding sexual violence, significantly influenced by the harrowing Gisèle Pelicot case that exposed systemic drug-facilitated abuse. That landmark trial, which concluded with Pelicot's ex-husband and fifty other men convicted, highlighted how digital platforms and problematic attitudes toward consent contribute to rape culture.
Josso has emerged as a prominent voice in France's fight against drug-related sexual assault since the incident, collaborating with Caroline Darian (daughter of Gisèle Pelicot) and co-authoring a parliamentary investigation into such crimes. Her advocacy contributed to legislative changes, including October 2025's redefinition of rape as any non-consensual sexual act, expanding beyond previous requirements of violence or surprise.
The trial continues to spotlight critical issues of accountability, consent, and substance-facilitated violence within French society and political institutions.
