French Civil Servant Accused of Drugging 240 Women

More than 240 women have come forward accusing a senior French civil servant of secretly drugging them during job interviews at the Ministry of Culture, revealing a disturbing pattern of alleged abuse. One alleged victim told The Guardian, “At the time, I didn’t even know this type of attack existed.”

Christian Nègre, the suspect, is accused of slipping an illegal diuretic into the drinks of job candidates over a nine-year period, then suggesting walking interviews far from bathrooms. Many of the women say they were left humiliated and traumatized after being forced to urinate in public or soil themselves. Despite police being alerted to the allegations in 2018, the victims are still waiting for a trial years later.

Investigators reportedly discovered a spreadsheet on Nègre’s computer titled “P Experiments,” which recorded the alleged druggings and the women’s reactions, along with photographs, according to Le Monde in 2023. Nègre was removed from the ministry and placed under formal investigation in 2019 but has continued working in the private sector while awaiting trial.

The case has drawn attention to a wider pattern of drug-facilitated abuse in France, known as “chemical submission,” highlighted in the Gisèle Pelicot case, and has sparked criticism over delays in the justice system.

“Six years later, we’re still waiting for a trial, which is mind-blowing,” one alleged victim told The Guardian. “It feels like we’re being victimized a second time,” said another. Some victims have received compensation through a civil case against the state, though the Ministry of Culture itself was not found liable.

A ministry spokesperson said the ministry is committed to preventing harassment and supporting survivors. However, the culture branch of the French trade union federation has called for the ministry to acknowledge its responsibility, citing earlier complaints from colleagues about Nègre’s conduct.

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