Former TV news presenter drops charges against The Parisian. Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, who had filed a defamation complaint against the daily after the revelations of Florence Porcel’s rape complaint against him, withdrew his legal action against the newspaper, according to a source familiar with the matter. This withdrawal, notified Tuesday to the opposing party and to the court, will be effective at the hearing scheduled for July 4, 2023, in Nanterre.
The Parisian revealed, in February 2021, the rape charges brought by Florence Porcel against Patrick Poivre d’Arvor. The 39-year-old author accuses the former star presenter of TF1 television news of having forced her to have sex in 2004 and to perform oral sex in 2009. After her complaint, a first preliminary investigation targeting “PPDA” had been opened in February 2021, before the investigations were closed.
Nineteen testimonials
Florence Porcel then filed a complaint again, this time with a civil action, to obtain the opening of a new investigation entrusted to the investigating judges. This judicial investigation is still ongoing. “PPDA” is the subject of another preliminary investigation for rape and sexual assault, in which 19 women testified.
For his part, the 75-year-old man, who disputes the numerous accusations of sexual violence brought against him, filed a complaint for slanderous denunciation against a dozen complainants. Contacted by AFP, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor’s lawyer could not be reached immediately on Wednesday morning.