French police question budget minister over rape allegation

PARIS – The French budget minister has been questioned by police officers investigating a woman’s rape complaint.

A judicial official told The Associated Press that Minister Gerald Darmanin met with investigators in Paris but was not taken into custody on Monday.

The judicial official requested anonymity to speak about an ongoing probe.

The Paris prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation last month after the woman filed a lawsuit accusing the 35-year-old Darmanin of raping her in 2009. Darmanin has denied any wrongdoing.

Another member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s government, Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot, revealed last week that a woman brought a complaint against him a decade ago for an alleged rape in 1997.

Hulot denied the rape allegation. A prosecutor said the complaint was dismissed under the statute of limitations.