A French cabinet minister became the target of a complaint for attempted rape

A French cabinet minister on Monday became the target of a complaint for attempted rape, prosecutors said, the latest sexual misconduct allegation against a member of President Emmanuel Macron's government. The complaint against Solidarity and Social Cohesion Minister Damien Abad is "currently being examined", they told AFP. 

According to the prosecutors , The complaint against Solidarity and Social Cohesion Minister Damien Abad (pictured June 2022) is 'currently being examined. 

He said he will not leave the mendacious and scandalous accusations without a response," . The woman's lawyer did not respond to AFP's request for comment. 

The complaint is the third sexual assault allegation against the minister. Prosecutors have not launched any formal investigation to date. The accusation against Abad follows other allegations of sexual assault against French ministers. Last week, Macron's junior minister for development, Francophony and international partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou denied allegations she had raped patients during gynaecological examinations, after three women filed criminal complaints. 

Mediapart said she cited eight people whom she either confided in later, or who witnessed part of the evening's events. 

Earlier, prosecutors investigated Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin over an allegation for rape filed in 2017. He denied any wrongdoing and prosecutors in January asked for the case to be dropped.

 Source: AFP