IMF head Strauss-Khan charged with sexual assault, attempted rape and imprisonment of hotel maid in New York

[darleneoconnor]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13402845

Can these sroties ever be reported without a discussion of whether the woman is lying or provoked the man?

It's like Julian Assange all over again.

There was a french man being interviewed about it on News 24 and you could sense a different attitude between him and the British newsreader, Nicholas Owen. The french man was emphasising how bad a crime it was, whereas the newsreader seemed to be fishing for some 'rape myths'.

We'll see how this one pans out.

Presumably the hotel will have CCTV images (all hotels have them at reception) detailing the precise time that he checked out.

As a potential flight risk with a major charge hanging over him, he'd be unlikely to get bail. The inability of the US courts to get at Roman Polanski has been a lesson.

Mind you, you don't have to be a rape apologist to feel unease at the 'perp walk' photos of DSK in handcuffs, escorted by police. It is unfair and prejudicial to have any person portrayed in this way even before their committal hearing, let alone trial. Think of how here you tend to be brought into court out of the full glare of cameras, or with a blanket over you if that's not possible.

I've lost count of the number of people at work who expressed scepticism that DSK would rape anyone as 'a man in his position could pay for any hooker he wanted'

\link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/dominique-strauss-kahn-allegations-details?intcmp=239\detailed account of the charges here}

says 'at about 12:00 hours'

\link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/dominique-strauss-kahn-medical-examination-court-hearing?intcmp=239\more descriptive piece here} - says 'at around 1pm'

The police must have the correct timings though, or the case would collapse? The hotel will have CCTV in the corridors as well as reception.

I have just been at dinner with our French sales rep, who argued that it must be a set-up because no one in such an important position would do something so stupid. (My colleague and I quoted Bill Clinton at him, but to no avail.) He then undermined his position by saying 'men have their needs'

Eldritch - yes, the shots of him being arrested are very different to the way the police act over here. But it's not unusual for the US. I don't think he's being singled out. Just not getting any special treatment and quite right too.

& the hotel says she's worked there 3 years & has always been an exemplary worker.

Well, the charges have now been laid, and the judicial process will go ahead. Are there any factors about the US system that mean there are concerns about fairness of sex offences trial there?

Edam-I don't think DSK is being singled out. I think these kinds of photos are unfair across the board. No one looks at their most worthy of sympathy in those circumstances. They set you up as a convict in people's minds before you've even been tried.

But I quite agree, he should get no special treatment. The fact that so far, he isn't will probably come as a big big shock to him.

Here is a story from America that provides information I hadn't previously heard.

It is from Fox News, who some might doubt as a credible source:

www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/16/imf-chief-held-without-bail/

Ok, the media has started the rape apologist stuff here in France. There was a programme on TV last night with journalists and politicians coming out with 'why would a man in his position risk it?' 'it would be so easy to set him up' type comments.

They didn't go for the outright conspiracy theory but they are definitely trying to imply that there must be some explanation other than that Strauss-Khan is a sex predator. It came across as rather disgusting misogyny of the 'cry rape' type rather than a serious political consideration.

No surprises there sadly.

It is, of course, so much more straightforward for this to be a complex set-up to discredit him, rather than for him to have done what hundreds of thousands of men do to women every day across the world.

I believe her.

There is a level of shock among some people that a man in his position would risk his entire career like this. And yes, I've heard the 'well he could pay a load of prostitutes so why would he do that' line too. Plus the thought that the whole thing is a set up. And a lot of hot protestation that the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Funny that the hot defence of due legal process doesn't happen with many other crimes

There has been far more reportage of his absence at the meeting than the fact he may have attempted rape and may have past form on this....plus one or two "oh those French " type comments...

What i find depressing is that this section of MN seems to be the only place this sort of thing can be discussed and that it seems to be rapidly becoming the only place women who have experienced rape and abuse can come for support (with the exception of the stately homes threads etc.). What does that say?

Its interesting that financial news channels, websites and forums are tending to strictly stick to facts and direct quotes of named sources. There is virtually no reporting or discussion of conspiracy theories or rumours.

This is a huge story in the financial world because the IMF is so crucial to the negotiation over restructuring the debts of the PIIGS countries but financial news journalists are heavily regulated and face heavy fines and even prison for spreading false information so they have a quite different mindset to mainstream news media and take a lot more care in what they report.

Yes, and the G8 is being hosted by France in two weeks, in Deauville.

I believe her. The victim.

I find this thread rather peculiar - how on earth can any of us know who to believe? That is for the courts surely. We just know what we've seen in the news - unless some of you are personally acquainted with either of them.

PlanetEarth - I find this difficult. Of course he is innocent until proven guilty, but that places doubt on the victim, and I don't want to doubt an allegation of rape.

Why pecular? In the same way as if anyone is charged very soon after an accusation of committing a crime, PlanetEarth, that generally means they are guilty of the crime they are accused of. Of course I can't be 100% certain but I think there's a pretty strong case against him. A chambermaid with three years of employment history behind her is fairly unlikely to have made the whole thing up. What would she have to gain?

As it has been said before, it is easier to believe this is the case of sexual abuse by a powerful man with a very dodgy past, than believing in a conspiracy theory.

However, even if this was all a set-up, it would mean that others knew about this dodgy past and they still allowed him/pushed him to get to the very top of the IMF, and only when he was a realistic rival in elections, something was done. It is not a nice scenario either way, and speaks volumes about how women are considered in society, and how cases of sexual abuse are treated.

good post Camaleon.

Oooooh, Christine
You need to be very careful there!
I do not think at all that because someone is charged quickly after an allegation they must be guilty.