French Ex-Senator Gets 4 Years for Drugging Colleague with MDMA

Former French Senator Convicted in High-Profile Drugging Case

In a shocking political scandal that has rocked France's political establishment, former senator Joël Guerriau, 68, has been sentenced to four years in prison for drugging fellow lawmaker Sandrine Josso with MDMA-laced champagne with intent to sexually assault her. The Paris court ordered Guerriau to serve 18 months of the sentence behind bars, with the remainder suspended, in a verdict that has drawn national attention to drug-facilitated sexual assault in France.

The Night That Changed Everything

The incident occurred in November 2023 when Josso, a member of the National Assembly from the same centrist MoDem party as Guerriau, visited his apartment in Paris's upscale 6th arrondissement to celebrate his reelection. What began as a friendly political gathering turned into a nightmare when Guerriau served Josso champagne spiked with a high dose of MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy.

Josso testified in court that she quickly experienced alarming symptoms after drinking the champagne. 'I thought it might be bad champagne. Then he insisted we toast again. I found that strange,' she told the court. 'I started having heart palpitations, felt nauseous, and had trouble standing up. I thought I was going to die.'

Despite her deteriorating condition, Josso managed to escape Guerriau's apartment and sought medical attention. Toxicological tests revealed she had three times the recreational dose of MDMA in her system - a dangerously high amount that could have been fatal.

Guerriau's Defense and the Court's Verdict

Guerriau, who represented the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, claimed the drugging was accidental. He told the court he had prepared the MDMA for himself the previous day to cope with depression but decided not to take it. 'In short, I am an idiot,' he said during the trial. 'I made a very serious mistake. I am truly sorry for Sandrine. I never wanted this. I hope she will forgive me someday.'

However, the court rejected his explanation. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Guerriau had searched online for information about drugs and rape approximately one month before the incident. The judge determined that Guerriau had 'consciously and without her knowledge administered a high dose of MDMA' to Josso, well above recreational limits, with clear intent to assault or rape her.

In addition to the prison sentence, Guerriau was ordered to pay Josso €5,000 in damages, undergo mandatory treatment, and was banned from holding elected office. His lawyers have announced they will appeal the verdict, meaning he won't immediately go to prison.

Broader Context: France's Reckoning with Drug-Facilitated Assault

This case comes in the wake of the landmark Gisèle Pelicot trial, where 51 men were convicted of raping Pelicot after her then-husband drugged her unconscious over a decade. That case, which concluded in December 2024, exposed systematic abuse and triggered national debate about sexual violence in France.

Josso has emerged as a leading voice against drug-facilitated sexual assault since her ordeal. She co-authored a parliamentary report on the issue and has become an advocate for victims. 'This verdict brings huge relief,' she said after the ruling. 'It's important that justice recognizes what happened and sends a strong message.'

The case highlights what French authorities have called a 'scourge' of drug-related sexual violence. According to a France 24 report, such incidents have been increasing in France, with victims often facing significant barriers to justice.

Lasting Impact and Political Fallout

Josso suffered severe physical and psychological consequences from the drugging. She required six months off work, developed sleep disorders and panic attacks, and had four teeth removed due to severe grinding - a common side effect of MDMA use. The drug, as noted in Wikipedia's MDMA entry, can cause teeth grinding, rapid heartbeat, and other adverse effects at high doses.

Guerriau, who had been a senator since 2011, resigned from the Senate in October and was expelled from the MoDem party following the allegations. The case has raised questions about safety and accountability within French political circles, particularly as Guerriau had previously voted for legislation making drugging with intent to commit sexual assault a crime.

As France continues to grapple with issues of sexual violence and political accountability, this case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist even among elected officials and the importance of robust legal frameworks to address drug-facilitated crimes.