An investigation was opened after a report from the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, relating to "a potential sex tape used for blackmail purposes" within the Luxembourg Palace, declared Thursday February 23, the Paris prosecutor's office, requested by Agence France-Presse (AFP). The investigations were entrusted to the Brigade for the suppression of delinquency committed against persons of the Parisian judicial police, said the prosecution, confirming a source close to the case.
This report was issued after an article in Le Canard chainé on February 7 mentioning “a sex tape” involving “a senator.” This intimate video would have become “a means of pressure” for a medical assistant who, according to the weekly, would have seen her salary “quickly increased by 45%”.
Investigators will look into facts likely to fall under three offenses punishable by two years of imprisonment and a fine of 60,000 euros, added the public prosecutor: firstly, the transmission of the image of a person with a character sexual; secondly, the use, retention or disclosure of a document or recording containing words or images of a sexual nature, obtained through invasion of the privacy of another person; and finally the dissemination, without the person's consent, of a recording or document relating to words or images of a sexual nature and obtained with their consent or by themselves.
The Senate shaken by another affair
In addition to this report, the AC Anti-Corruption association filed a complaint on February 19 to ask the Paris prosecutor's office to open an investigation for misappropriation of public funds, illegal taking of interest and breach of trust. On February 7, the Senate physician also sent an email to all 348 senators.
In this writing, of which AFP had a copy, the doctor made the link between his dismissal – from February 15 – and the compromising video, which he said he had reported. He mentioned the case of the medical assistant, recruited according to him “on the basis of false diplomas”. This would hold “compromising elements of her lover”, presented as “an authority of the Senate”, in order to “retain a lever of pressure in the event of possible difficulties”.
But a highly placed Senate source told AFP on February 9 that the doctor's dismissal was justified by the discovery of a "professional activity [carried out] in parallel with his duties" and which "seriously compromised the good functioning of the medical office and administrative team”.
Another affair recently shook the Senate. In November, Loire-Atlantique senator Joël Guerriau was indicted, suspected of having unknowingly drugged a member of parliament with a view to possible sexual assault. He disputes these accusations.
