The day after the filing of a complaint for “sexual harassment” against the deputy LFI Éric Coquerel, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin defended on BFMTV the “presumption of innocence” and denounced the “trials” on “social networks “.
“I am very attached to the presumption of innocence”, “that applies to everyone, including Mr. Coquerel”, even if the latter is “an adversary, perhaps an enemy” declared Gérald Darmanin.
On Monday, Sophie Tissier, who publicly denounced the “offensive, harassing” behavior that Eric Coquerel allegedly had in 2014, filed a complaint for “sexual harassment” against the new chairman of the Assembly’s Finance Committee. The deputy contests the accusations of the activist. “It was not a physical attack in the sense that there was no physical violence”, she judged, “but the harassment, it was still traumatic”, asking, before filing complaint, “let him hear what I have to say and say yes it’s true, I had inappropriate behavior “, she added.
“Lawsuits don’t go to Twitter”
“The presumption of innocence is still something interesting, it is the foundation of a democracy”, added the Minister of the Interior, also targeted by a complaint for rape, filed without further action in a first stage then relaunched and for which the prosecution requested a dismissal in early 2022. The investigating judge has not yet ruled on the outcome of the procedure. If Éric Coquerel “is criminally responsible, he will be convicted”, said Gérald Darmanin, declaring that “the trials do not go to Twitter”.
Asked about the exit from the government of Damien Abad, who is the subject of an investigation for attempted rape, when he himself remained at the Ministry of Public Accounts and then of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin judged that “the comparison” between he and the former Minister of Solidarity was “very moved”. “There are four court decisions that have been in my favor,” he defended himself.