Withdrawal of Defamation Complaint by Noël Le Graët
In a significant development, Noël Le Graët has officially withdrawn his defamation complaint against Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the former French Minister of Sports. This decision, announced on November 21, 2024, means that Oudéa-Castéra will not face trial at the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) as previously scheduled for December 3 and 4. Le Graët's lawyer, Thierry Marembert, confirmed the withdrawal to AFP, stating that "justice has ruled" following the dismissal of an investigation into Le Graët for allegations of moral and sexual harassment, which had prompted Oudéa-Castéra's initial comments.
Oudéa-Castéra expressed her relief on social media, describing the withdrawal as a "wise decision." She noted that had the trial proceeded, Le Graët would have had to confront his past behavior that led to his resignation from the French Football Federation (FFF). This legal saga began in April 2023 when Le Graët accused Oudéa-Castéra of lying about the findings of an audit report that scrutinized his conduct.
Context of the Legal Dispute
The defamation complaint stemmed from Oudéa-Castéra's remarks regarding a damning audit by the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), which investigated allegations of sexual harassment against Le Graët. Following the dismissal of the harassment complaint against him, Le Graët had publicly criticized Oudéa-Castéra, questioning her contributions to sports during her tenure as Minister. Oudéa-Castéra, who served as Minister of Sports from May 2022 to September 2024, has faced her share of controversies during her brief political career, including a short stint as Minister of National Education and Youth.
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