Former French Senator Jailed for Drugging Lawmaker in High-Profile Abuse Case

A French court has sentenced former French Senator Joël Guerriau to four years in prison, including 18 months behind bars, after finding him guilty of drugging a fellow lawmaker with ecstasy with the intent to sexually assault her. The ruling has sent shockwaves through France’s political establishment and reignited national debate over consent, abuse of power, and drug-facilitated sexual violence.

The victim, National Assembly MP Sandrine Josso, described the verdict as “a huge relief,” bringing to a close a case that has dominated headlines since late 2023.

What Happened in Paris

The court found that Joël Guerriau, 68, spiked a glass of champagne with MDMA during a private meeting at his Paris apartment. Sandrine Josso, then visiting to celebrate Joël Guerriau’s re-election, testified that she noticed the drink tasted unusually sweet and sticky. Soon after, she experienced severe physical symptoms, including a racing heartbeat, prompting her to flee the apartment and seek medical help.

Hospital tests later revealed a high concentration of ecstasy in her blood, and investigators also found the drug inside Joël Guerriau’s home.

Defence Claims Rejected by the Court

Ex French Senator Joël Guerriau denied having sexual intent and claimed the incident was a tragic mistake. He told the court that he had prepared the drug for his own use the day before to calm a panic attack, then accidentally served the contaminated glass the following evening. “In short, I am an idiot,” he said during testimony.

Prosecutors dismissed this explanation, arguing that the act was deliberate and carried out with criminal intent. They stressed that Guerriau, as a lawmaker, had even voted in favour of laws criminalising the administration of substances to facilitate sexual assault.

Sandrine Josso

Lasting Impact on the Victim

Sandrine Josso’s lawyer detailed the long-term consequences she has faced, including months away from work, ongoing medical and psychological treatment, nightmares, and severe stress-related health problems. The court also ordered Guerriau to pay damages for emotional harm.

Since the incident, Josso has become an outspoken advocate against so-called “chemical submission,” a term used to describe drug-facilitated sexual assault.

A Wider Reckoning in France

The case comes amid heightened public awareness in France following other high-profile convictions involving drugging and sexual violence. It also coincides with recent legal reforms that place consent more clearly at the centre of France’s definition of rape.

Joël Guerriau, who served in the Senate from 2011 until 2025, resigned from office and was expelled from his political party before the verdict. His lawyers have confirmed he will appeal the sentence.

As France continues to confront abuse within positions of power, the case stands as a stark reminder that political status offers no shield from accountability.