Former Minister Damien Abad (Solidarity and Disabled People), the subject of an investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office for attempted rape, judged Monday “preferable, in the face of the despicable slanders of which (he is) the target”, to be able to “to defend without hindering the action of the government”.
“I will defend myself relentlessly until justice confirms my innocence,” he said during the transfer of power with the boss of the Red Cross Jean-Christophe Combe, appointed to his post.
“Ignoble calumnies”
“It seemed preferable, in the face of the despicable slanders of which I am the target, orchestrated in a well-chosen calendar, that I could defend myself without hindering the action of the government”, he declared during a short speech, assuring leave the ministry “with great regret”.
“I will fight against this disastrous movement which relegates the presumption of innocence to the rank of unimportant old stuff, and which makes slander a formidable political weapon in the hands of malevolent spirits, he assured. I will defend myself relentlessly until justice confirms my innocence”.
“Everyone should measure the incredible violence for a human being, a family, loved ones, such cleverly orchestrated practices and too often without media discernment”, further estimated the former minister.
And then ?
For the near future, Damien Abad “will for (his) part continue (his) action in (his) constituency (of Ain) and in the National Assembly”, where he has just been elected, for a third mandate, with 57.86% of the vote.
The executive was facing growing pressure to dismiss Damien Abad from the government, who came from the ranks of LR and was the subject of an investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office, opened on June 29, after the complaint of attempted rape of a woman for facts dating back to the first half of 2010.