Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has not ruled out legal action against the authors of a Facebook page that published anonymous sexual assault allegations against him.
The page “Hyènes en jupons” (Hyenas in skirts) was temporarily unavailable Monday evening and the numerous allegations posted on the page — including those against Blanchet — were no longer public.
An unsigned press release issued by the group said it had suspended the page following “threats of violence” against the collective and its members.
On Tuesday, Blanchet said the fact that the allegations were no longer public was already “significant progress” and a “clear demonstration that they should never have existed.”
He said he felt it less “necessary” to sue the group, but that he would be ready to do so “if the need should arise.”
The Facebook page reappeared shortly afterwards, including the anonymous allegations about Blanchet.
The anonymous claim alleges Blanchet forcibly kissed and attempted to obtain sex in exchange for cocaine. The alleged incident took place in a Montreal bar in the late 1990s.
Blanchet has categorically denied the allegations, which he has described as pure “fabrication.”
For the third day in a row, he also declined to say whether he had used cocaine at the time. He says he’s reserving his comments in the event of a lawsuit.
— With files from Global News’ Kalina Laframboise
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