May 10, 2016 - 3:35 AM
PARIS - The Paris prosecutor has opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and malicious calls against a French lawmaker.
The office said Tuesday in a written statement that investigators will take evidence from four women who a day earlier publicly denounced 53-year-old Denis Baupin.
Baupin, a Green politician, resigned Monday as vice-president of the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, to concentrate on his defence, according to a statement from his lawyer. He denies any misconduct.
None of the women spoke out at the time about the harassment. They said they had feared for their careers and did not want to cause trouble for the Green party.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016