Former French Senator Convicted of Drugging Lawmaker

A Paris court convicted former French senator Joël Guerriau on Tuesday of drugging a fellow lawmaker with the intent to sexually assault her, in a case that has spotlighted the issue of drug-facilitated crimes in France. Guerriau, 68, was found guilty of administering MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, to Sandrine Josso, a 50-year-old member of the National Assembly, without her knowledge during a private gathering at his Paris apartment in November 2023. He was also convicted of illegal drug possession. The court sentenced him to four years in prison, with 30 months suspended, imposed a five-year ban from running for elected office, and ordered him to pay Josso 9,000 euros in damages. Additionally, Guerriau must undergo psychological or psychiatric treatment and is prohibited from contacting Josso.

The incident occurred when Guerriau, then a senator representing the Loire-Atlantique region, invited Josso, a longtime acquaintance and fellow centrist politician, to his home to celebrate his reelection. Josso testified that after taking a few sips of champagne poured by Guerriau, she experienced severe symptoms including heart palpitations, shaking legs, extreme thirst, and a sense...