Babette de Rozières, Regional Councillor for Paris Île-de-France, reacts exclusively for Interviews to the controversies sparked by an alleged rape she denounced, which reportedly took place within the Ministry of the Armed Forces. In an interview she gave to Scroll TV Radio, she recounted this alleged rape without naming names, information subsequently picked up by The Parisien on February 17th.
Following this publication, the former chief of staff to the Minister of the Armed Forces, now at Matignon (the Prime Minister's office), contacted his lawyer to threaten her with a lawsuit for defamation and slander. In his statement to InterviewsBabette de Rozières looks back on the reports she made, the investigations carried out, the pressures exerted and the dysfunctions observed, affirming her determination to defend her reputation and to shed full light on this affair.
Here is Babette de Rozières' statement to Entrevue:
"Given the scale of the outrage circulating on social media regarding the rape allegations made by Le Parisien dated February 17, 2026, to whom I sent a request for a right of reply, I feel I must, in the interest of transparency, provide clarifications in the hope of dispelling all misunderstandings and all malicious interpretations.
The serious facts which were spontaneously reported to me in October 2025 obliged me to make a report to the Public Prosecutor on the basis of Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, communicating to him the evidence placed under seal and attached to the procedure.
It was during an interview on SCROLL TV RADIO, on February 13, 2026, that, when questioned about the Epstein case, I naturally recounted the facts brought to my attention, taking care not to mention any names.
I learned, in an article published in Le Parisien of February 17, 2026, that the reported facts had already been the subject of a first report concerning the same facts, which was closed without further action in July 2025.
I learned that at the time, as part of an internal investigation initiated by the Minister of the Armed Forces himself, he felt he had to "not to retain his chief of staff in his position during the investigation and to terminate the functions of the victim by order of October 22, 2024 with effect from October 28, 2024, who was exfiltrated in the aftermath, a week later, to the office of the mayor of Paris in charge of economic life."
Since the publication of the article Le Parisien and the posting of the video on Facebook, it was brought to my attention "that situations of redundant payments for the same item have been identified in the accounting records at the Ministry of the Armed Forces, which seems to highlight vulnerabilities in internal control mechanisms and raises questions about the compliance of these dubious transactions…"And I wonder.
All of this is likely to instill serious concerns in my mind as to what the real reasons are that led the Minister of the Armed Forces to personally investigate this case, which was subsequently dismissed.
I can't explain how the head of Cabinet, now at Matignon, whose name I never mentioned in the incriminating video, had its lawyer Benjamin Gruau write to the journalist Karim Sebbouh, who interviewed me, to demand that he remove the video clip under threat of a defamation lawsuit. The article also mentions that a complaint for slander and defamation was allegedly filed against me by the chief of staff at Matignon. I deduce from this that he has admitted to himself by coming forward.
I don't understand how the Prime Minister's communications department dares to respond to the journalist from Le Parisienas mentioned in his article, that "I am acting out of a desire for personal revenge.", referring to the mission he entrusted to me when he was Minister for Overseas Territories, when he himself came to my home to offer me this mission, which I carried out to completion by submitting a detailed report on the preservation and promotion of the culinary heritage of the Overseas Territories.
You will understand that this means of defense, which aims to cast aspersions, is unworthy and reveals a feeling of nervousness, or even panic, within the ministry which I cannot accept in my capacity as an elected official.
Everyone is holding their breath over this case which has been brewing on social media and has spread like wildfire, with nearly 800,000 views in 3 days on my Facebook post "Panic at Matignon", just like the incriminating online video.
The print media and the media are lying in wait, not to mention Mediapart which has been following this case from the beginning.
I have entrusted my lawyer with the task of pursuing this matter in court in response to the serious accusations made against me.
I will not give up: my reputation and my honor are at stake, and I will go all the way to bring out the truth.
I wanted to provide these details on this matter that they are trying to suppress, because The French people need to know who the statesmen are who hide behind their mask of respectability and who govern us..
Maule, March 3, 2026
Babette of Rozieres
Regional Councillor for Paris Île-de-France
What does the intimidation letter say?
The formal notice sent to the Scroll TV Radio journalist who interviewed Babette de Rozières stipulates that "In this video, the person concerned (Babette de Rozières) repeatedly makes statements between the 38th and 43rd minute that constitute the offense of public defamation, as provided for and punished by article 29, paragraph 1, of the law of July 29, 1881 on the freedom of the press.
The statements made by Mrs. Babette de Rosières accuse Mr. Paul Hugo Verdin of the very serious crime of rape, even though a preliminary investigation launched after the facts were reported led to a dismissal of the case.
My client, who reserves the right to pursue these remarks in court, hereby requests, in view of their unlawful nature, the outright removal of the disputed passage from the video published on your channel.
This letter constitutes a formal notice within the meaning of the provisions that trigger all deadlines, interest and other consequences that the law (and more particularly Articles 1217, 1221 et seq., 1231 of the Civil Code) and the courts attach to formal notices.
In the absence of a response from you, I inform you that I have been instructed to initiate all legal action necessary to protect my client's interests.
