politics
January 26, 2026
What to know about a French ex-senator on trial for drugging a lawmaker to sexually assault her
A French former senator goes on trial Monday in Paris over accusations of drugging another lawmaker to sexually assault her in a case that echoes the landmark drugging-and-rape trial that riveted France and turned Gisèle Pelicot into a global icon of the fight against sexual violence.
TL;DR
- Former French senator Joël Guerriau is on trial for allegedly drugging a fellow lawmaker, Sandrine Josso, with MDMA.
- Josso reported feeling unwell and experiencing cardiac palpitations after drinking champagne served by Guerriau, later testing positive for MDMA.
- Guerriau's defense claims he accidentally served Josso a drugged drink intended for himself, citing a 'handling error'.
- The case is compared to the Gisèle Pelicot trial, which brought significant attention to drug-facilitated sexual assault in France.
- Following the Pelicot case, France updated its law to define rape as any non-consensual sexual act.