French prosecutors have launched five new investigations into rape allegations against former prime-time news presenter Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, adding to the legal troubles of the 76-year-old journalist, who has consistently denied accusations of sexual misconduct.
The new probes come as part of a broader inquiry that has already led to one charge and multiple claims. In December 2023, Poivre d’Arvor was formally charged with the rape of writer Florence Porcel in 2009.
This case has since expanded to include allegations involving two additional women who claim to have been raped, and another woman who alleges sexual assault, all occurring between 2007 and 2018.
The ongoing investigation now includes five new complaints, each alleging incidents of rape from earlier periods.
Among the new accusers, journalist Helene Devynck has claimed that Poivre d’Arvor raped her in 1993 while she was his assistant.
Another journalist, Stephanie Khayat, has accused the former presenter of raping her twice, in 1994 and 1997. Marie-Laure Eude-Delattre alleges that she was raped by Poivre d’Arvor as a 23-year-old intern at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985.
Margot Cauquil-Gleizes, now a teacher, has stated that Poivre d’Arvor raped her in the same year when she was 17.
The accusers had previously filed complaints that were dismissed due to the statute of limitations, but their cases have now prompted new investigations.
According to a source at the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, the new probes involve allegations from periods not covered by the statute of limitations due to the multiple complaints and the legal principle of “cascading” cases, which can extend the time frame for prosecution.
Corinne Herrmann, the lawyer representing the accusers, explained that the accumulation of cases can reset the statute of limitations for earlier claims. “When you have a cascade of cases, the latest annuls the statute of limitations for the one before it,” she said.
The renewed scrutiny comes in the wake of a broader reckoning in France regarding sexual abuse in the arts and journalism.
The country has been grappling with a series of abuse allegations, including those against screen icon Gérard Depardieu, who is set to stand trial in October over accusations of sexually assaulting two women. Depardieu has also faced charges of rape from 2020, which he denies.
Poivre d’Arvor’s legal team was not available for immediate comment. The case continues to unfold as France confronts a wave of allegations in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which has sparked a significant cultural shift in how such accusations are handled and addressed.
As these investigations proceed, they add to the ongoing discourse about sexual misconduct and accountability in high-profile industries, reflecting a growing demand for justice and transparency.
