A young woman who has accused
Leonardo La Russa, the son of Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russo,
of sexual assault after a night at a Milan disco in May was
heard by investigators on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was questioned for around three hours in
relation to the alleged offence, according to investigative
sources.
The woman reportedly claims she was taken to La Russa's home
after the evening out and woke up there the following morning
remembering nothing.
She alleges Leonardo then told her she had had sex with him and
a Dj friend.
On Tuesday investigators also heard a friend and an acquaintance
of the young woman who had been with her at the disco.
On Friday the Senate speaker came under fire for issuing a
statement defending his youngest son and appearing to put the
blame on the alleged victim.
"The account of a girl who, by her own admission, had consumed
cocaine before meeting my son objectively raises many doubts",
as does the fact that "the complaint was filed after 40 days,"
said Ignazio La Russa.
His comment drew immediate criticism from opposition parties.
"Over and above his son's responsibility, which it is down to
the judiciary to clarify, it is disgusting to hear words from
the second highest office of State that once again intend to
undermine the credibility of women who report sexual violence on
grounds of how long it has taken them or whether they had
consumed alcohol or drugs, as if this were an automatic
presumption of their consent," said centre-left opposition
Democratic Party (Pd) secretary Elly Schlein.
"The President of the Senate cannot perform secondary
victimisation," she added. "It is precisely because of these
kinds of words that so many women do not report (sexual
violence) for fear of not being believed. It is unacceptable for
those holding institutional positions to legitimise sexist
prejudice," concluded Schlein.
Photo: Lawyer Stefano Benvenuto, who is representing the woman
who reported Leonardo La Russa for alleged sexual assault.
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