Jean Lassalle targeted by an investigation for rape

Jean Lassalle is the subject of a preliminary investigation for rape and sexual assault, Franceinfo learned on Friday July 21 from the Bordeaux prosecutor’s office, confirming information from BFMTV. The investigation opened on May 3 and entrusted to the Bordeaux judicial police concerns facts that date back to 2010 and “unconfirmed at this time”says the prosecution.

According to a source close to the case at franceinfo, the victim is 45 years old today. She affirms that the facts took place in a hotel room during the regional elections of March 2010, after asking Jean Lassalle to change his school daughter.

Jean Lassalle soon heard

At the time, the deputy of Béarn was head of the list of the MoDem in Aquitaine. Beaten in a triangle in the second round, he was appointed vice-president of François Bayrou’s party a week later.

Contacted by franceinfo, Jean Lassalle explains that he is “materially impossible” to respond to all those who have contacted him and invites journalists to meet him at the screening of a film in which he played, on the evening of Friday July 21 in Auch.

The former deputy of Béarn refuses “to deny”

He nevertheless assures our colleagues from La République des Pyrénées that he has not been “informed” of the opening of this investigation. He refuses to “deny” these accusations of rape, which he believes would be a way “to act” these facts, “while these are only rumors”. “If I had lived this moment, I would remember it”he says, however.

The candidate for the presidential elections of 2017 and 2022 “should be heard quickly to collect his observations and statements on these accusations”explains the parquet floor of Bordeaux to franceinfo. “Investigations are continuing”. According to the source close to the file at franceinfo, Jean Lassalle will soon be heard in free hearing. Several witnesses must also be heard.