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 club.

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,” Ignazio La Russa said.

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,” centre-left opposition Democratic Party (Pd) secretary Elly Schlein, said.

“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,” Schlein said.

Equal Opportunities Minister Eugenia Roccella, however, defended La Russa Snr on Saturday

“I do not enter into (the merit of) individual cases and the reaction of a person who has emotional ties,” Roccella said in reference to the Senate Speaker.

“He is the father of the eventual suspect,” she added.

“What I can say is that La Russa is the one who first proposed a men-only demonstration against violence against women, because this is not a problem that only effects women but also men.

“This already seems to me to be an answer,” the minister said.

On Friday La Russa issued a statement saying he was “certain” his son had nothing to answer for.

ANSA