Deputy Violette Spillebout Files Harassment Complaint Against Journalist Jacques Trentesaux

The Lille Criminal Court examined this June 6, 2023 the complaint of Violette Spillebout, deputy for the North, against the journalist Jacques Trentesaux, of Médiacités, for harassment. The prosecution deferred to the judges’ decision. The judgment was reserved.

The facts date back to the 2020 municipal campaign. On February 13, at the end of a press briefing by the candidate for mayor of Lille Violette Spillebouthis campaign manager Ingrid Brulantspeaks with Jacques Trentesauxjournalist and publication director of Médiacités.

During the discussion, the journalist wondered about the existence of pornographic photos of Violette Spillebout, which could provoke a “fact of campaign” according to Jacques Trentesaux. At the helm, this June 6, 2023, he assures that he had no interest in himself for these photos, shots that his media was not intended to publish. On the other hand, it seemed to him that a possible broadcast on a social network or in another media would have caused an earthquake in Violette Spillebout’s campaign.

At the hearing, the member of the 9th district of the North, prefers to read a text that she wrote, for the attention of the president of the meeting. She mentions the “choc“, which was his after the report made to him by Ingrid Brulant at the time of his interview with Jacques Trentesaux.

Ingrid Brulant, who was not present at the hearing, would have understood during this interview that Jacques Trentesaux was indeed in possession of the compromising photos. The latter assures him that he has always explained that this was not the case but that he had been promised these photos, which he wanted to verify the existence.

Four other facts – which may constitute, according to the complainant, a repetition and therefore an act of harassment – would then have taken place until April 29, 2020. In the meantime, Violette Spillebout wrote a letter to the journalist dated March 8, i.e. seven days of the first round, to denounce his behavior and ask him not to attend his press briefings.

Jacques Trentesaux then remembers being “fell from the clouds“upon receipt of this letter. Which does not prevent him from explaining in an email of April 29, between the two rounds of “continue its all-out investigations”.

At the hearing, Violette Spillebout continues to read her text at the bar. Then, silence… Moved, the deputy cries. She does not understand : “I told the Lille police: is it legitimate to meet people to talk about erotic photos of me? I wonder what happened in his life. I feel dirty, hurt, attacked in my life as a woman and a mother. I only want one thing, that he stops his actions.

The prosecutor did not decide but preferred to rely on the decision of the judges, given that the investigation into the facts was closed without further action in a previous judgment.

In his argument, Master Stephane Dhontelawyer for Violette Spillebout wondered: “My client would have invented? She would have imposed the subject? No, there is a certain influence of Jacques Trentesaux, put in place by touches, with finesse. If it is not to publish photos, then why ask the question to all these people urbi et orbi. He behaved in a way that created a situation of control”.

Conversely, Master Vincent Fillolalawyer for Jacques Trentesaux, argued that, on the contrary, the real reason for Violette Spillebout’s complaint, “It’s that she can’t stand when the press isn’t laudatory, when it doesn’t bring her laurels to her. It’s an abusive procedure made to stifle journalists who aren’t complacent.” The lawyer is asking for release and some 10,000 euros in damages.

To conclude this hearing, the chairman of the session gave the floor to Jacques Trentesaux. In a calm but nevertheless moved voice, the journalist explained that he left his home, saying to his wife and daughter: “you will know tonight if I am a sexual harasser”, and to recall a word from Violette Spillebout: “Since 2018, I have the feeling of being watched”. The journalist explains that he does not want to deny the real suffering of the one to whom he is opposed in this affair, but evokes what he considers to be a “blocking” of the deputy.

Judgment has been reserved for July 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.