What Happened
Former senator Joël Guerriau, 68, is on trial after lawmaker Sandrine Josso said he gave her a glass of champagne in November 2023 that left her ill and led to a hospital test showing a high level of MDMA. Josso says she was invited to what she thought was a friendly celebration at his Paris apartment. Guerriau has admitted he served a drink that contained MDMA but insists the act was accidental. The trial opened on January 26, 2026.
The Charges
Prosecutors charged Guerriau with possession and use of illegal drugs and with secretly administering a substance intended to alter discernment to commit rape or sexual assault. The case is focused on whether the administration was deliberate and whether there was intent to abuse. Court documents show the substance found in Josso’s blood was far above typical recreational levels, which prosecutors say supports the claim she was incapacitated beyond normal use.
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What He Says
Guerriau told the court he took the powder from another senator whom he refused to name and said he used it to cope with depression and anxiety. He said he put some of the white powder in a glass meant for himself but did not drink it, and that he then offered that same glass to Josso by mistake. He called the episode a “very serious mistake” and asked for forgiveness. That explanation raises questions about drug handling inside political circles and why a public official had access to powdered MDMA at home.
Why It Matters
The trial lands in a broader debate about drug-facilitated sexual assault and how institutions respond when the accused holds power. If the facts show a deliberate act, it will be a criminal betrayal of trust. If it was truly an accident, the case still exposes sloppy behavior and weak safeguards among elites. Either way, the public deserves a clear, evidence driven process rather than a flurry of spin from institutions or the media.
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