Former Paris town hall deputy under inquiry over suspected rape

In its statement, the Paris prosecutor said the investigations regarding Girard would "aim to precisely assess if the reported facts could be defined as a criminal offence and if, given they occurred a long time ago, the time limit for proceedings has already expired". Girard, a member of the Socialist Party that runs the French capital, resigned as deputy mayor and the city's cultural councillor last month in a surprise move, citing what he called "a poisonous atmosphere".

The Paris public prosecutor has opened a preliminary inquiry against former Paris deputy mayor Christophe Girard over the suspected rape of a minor.

"Following statements...published by the New York Times on Aug. 16 accusing Christophe Girard, the Paris public prosecutor has opened...a preliminary inquiry for rape by a person in a position of authority," the prosecutor said in a statement on Tuesday. Delphine Meillet, a lawyer for the 64-year-old Girard told Reuters the preliminary investigation was legally groundless although no surprise, saying it arose from "media pressure".

Meillet also said Girard would file a complaint for slander on Friday. In its statement, the Paris prosecutor said the investigations regarding Girard would "aim to precisely assess if the reported facts could be defined as a criminal offence and if, given they occurred a long time ago, the time limit for proceedings has already expired".

Girard, a member of the Socialist Party that runs the French capital, resigned as deputy mayor and the city's cultural councillor last month in a surprise move, citing what he called "a poisonous atmosphere".