“Jean-Jacques Bourdin, at the request of management, temporarily withdraws from the antennas of BFMTV and RMC“It is with these words that the management of Altice Media begins its press release published this Sunday, January 23, 2022.”This decision was made to not to harm the daily operation of BFMTV and RMC. This temporary withdrawal will make it possible to avoid political and media manipulation of this affair.“, continues the official document.
After the revelation in The Parisian Saturday January 15 of a complaint for sexual assault for facts dating from 2013, the management of Altice Media, owner of BFMTV / RMC, had supported the 72-year-old host while saying he was ready to take “all measures that may be necessary” in terms of “evolution” of this case. And this is what she did following the opening of an investigation for “sexual assault” by the Paris prosecutor’s office, entrusted to the police station of the XVIth arrondissement, about this complaint filed by a former journalist from BFMTV / RMC in the same police station.
“The group recalls that Jean-Jacques Bourdin vigorously disputes the facts denounced and benefits from the presumption of innocence. The group recalls that an internal investigation has been opened to ensure that no facts of this type have been brought to the attention of the company’s employees and managers.“, continues the press release from Altice Media, which specifies thatApolline de Malherbe will resume the political interview with Jean-Jacques Bourdin at 8:30 a.m. on BFMTV/RMC from Monday 24 January and that his show France in The Eyes, on BFMTV, will be hosted by Bruce Toussaint. Jean-Jacques Bourdin had received Valérie Pécresse on January 18 in his new political program, in a very tense atmosphere because of the accusations made against him.
The facts that Jean-Jacques Bourdin denies
According to the complaint consulted by AFP, the woman who accuses Jean-Jacques Bourdin (now 33 years old and who worked with him for several years on the morning show of BFMTV) affirms that he “grab the neck“, “brought her face closer“of his and has”tried to kiss (her) several times“, without “to arrive at“, in the swimming pool of a hotel in Calvi (Haute-Corse) in October 2013. She would have “debated” and would have managed to get out of the swimming pool. Mr. Bourdin would then have said: “I always get what I want“, “a threat from someone who had a hierarchical ascendancy“according to her. Then he would have sent her”for several months” insistent emails and text messages, adds the journalist who says she has “been constantly in fear“until his departure from the group in 2017.
According to the complaint, the journalist “found the courage to talk about it (…) with the release of women’s speech and the Nicolas Hulot affair“, targeted since the end of November by a preliminary investigation for “rape and sexual assault”.
The host denied these accusations. “I know this person, and I worked with her. I admit having bathed with her in the swimming pool of this hotel. But I never tried to force-kiss her or anyone else“, he replied a week ago to the Parisian. These facts, more than eight years old, are possibly prescribed because the prescription in this matter is six years.
Figure of BFMTV, Jean-Jacques Bourdin reiterated his position on Tuesday evening at the start of the launch on this channel of his new political program France in the eyes – an interview conducted in the regions and directly with the main candidates for the Elysée. “I decided not to express myself on this subject; I dispute the facts reported by the press and I let justice do its job“, he reacted to Valérie Pécresse, his first guest. The LR presidential candidate had conditioned her participation on a “introductory statement” at the start of the show,what BFMTV accepted“, had indicated his entourage.
Jean-Jacques Bourdin remains presumed innocent of the charges against him until the end of the investigation.