Paris, France - Former French senator Joël Guerriau, 68, has been convicted of drugging a fellow lawmaker with MDMA in order to sexually assault her. The case, which unfolded in November 2023, saw Guerriau serve a four‑year prison sentence, 18 months of which must be spent behind bars. He has appealed the verdict, meaning he will not begin serving time until a new trial is held. The victim, MP Sandrine Josso, 50, of the MoDem party, testified that she suffered heart palpitations, nausea and a racing heart after drinking the spiked champagne and fled the senator’s apartment in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. A toxicology report confirmed a high dose of ecstasy in her blood. Guerriau denied intent to assault, claiming a mistake, but the state prosecutor argued he deliberately placed the drug with the aim of rape. The conviction follows a broader push in France to address drug‑related sexual assault, highlighted by other high‑profile cases such as that of Gisèle Pelicot. The case has shocked French politics and raised questions about safety protocols for politicians.

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