IMF Head Dominique Strauss Kahn held on attempted rape charges

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This story is HUGE in France. Infographics detailing Rikers Island and such.

When Nick Sarkozy warns you to lay off the womanizing (as he did in 2007), you know you should probably cut it out.
 
Hard to know what to say about this at such an early stage in the legal proceedings. (Not that that's stopped either the French or American media from cranking out tons of coverage on everything from past rumors of DSK as sexual harasser/assailant to cultural differences in French and American views of philandering alpha males.) I'm sure the NYPD were well aware from the beginning of the potential for an 'international incident' here.

Perhaps he can take some comfort in the fact that Schwarzenegger quickly displaced him as the lead scandal story this side of the pond.
 
i heard that in France they're not broadcasting footage of DSK in handcuffs or any images portraying him as a criminal, based on the idea of presumed innocence until proven guilty...
the French and US media are reportedly handling the situation in very different ways...

Strauss-Kahn case sparks debate about French media's deference to power | World news | The Guardian

Strauss-Kahn case sparks debate about French media's deference to power
US press attack 'code of silence' over politicians' affairs – but French editors claim ditching it would hamper quality journalism


Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
The Guardian, Thursday 19 May 2011
Article history

Since Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest on allegations of sexual assault, the French media have been under pressure. They are accused, chiefly by the US press, of cowardly observing a "code of silence" over politicians' private lives; of either burying or failing to properly investigate the Socialist presidential frontrunner's long-rumoured predatory nature toward women.

The debate has consumed the French commentariat, with many political editors insisting that they allude as much as possible to Strauss-Kahn's reputation as a seducer, within the bounds of France's strong libel and privacy laws and cultural view of sex being a politician's private business.

One political editor suggested it was French politicians who should be taken to task. Many had long-whispered that sexual behaviour might bring Strauss-Kahn down during the presidential campaign – if they had evidence that his behaviour was potentially criminal, they should have spoken out, the editor said.

Nicholas Demorand, editor of the daily Liberation, said his paper would continue to respect politicians' privacy. "It's a democratic principle – hypocritical in some people's eyes, but fundamental ... Ditching this principle would lead to encouraging short-term buzz and trash over quality news."

Others warned that close links between journalists and politicians led to self-censorship, with the fear of being denied crucial access preventing reporters from exposing inappropriate behaviour.

The chasm between the US and French media was clear in a row over images of Strauss-Kahn since his arrest. The IMF head was filmed unshaven and in handcuffs being escorted by New York police before his court appearance. These images were broadcast all over the world – except in France, where one of Strauss-Kahn's lawyers threatened legal action against channels broadcasting them. The CSA, the government's media watchdog, warned to use "the greatest restraint" in broadcasting them because the French law on presumption of innocence does not allow suspects to be shown in handcuffs.

French state TV has since made limited use of the scenes of Strauss-Kahn in court and is now avoiding the handcuffed shots. Other French channels said it would be absurd not to use them when they were broadcast online and across the world.

New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, agreed the display of Strauss-Kahn being led by police was humiliating and would be unfair if a defendant was proved to be innocent. "But if you don't want to do the 'perp walk', don't do the crime," he added.

US media have criticised the French for showing more compassion for Strauss-Kahn than for the alleged rape victim, whose identity some French newspapers have published. The feminist French lawyer Gisèle Halimi, praised the US justice system, which she said protected women's dignity. "I am convinced that if this affair had taken place in France, we would never have heard anything about it," she told Le Parisien.
 
Strauss-Kahn's alleged victim remained out of sight with her 15-year-old daughter.

A source familiar with the first of two High Bridge apartments the Guinean native lived in confirmed that she rented her apartment through Harlem United Community AIDS Center, a social-service agency that provides housing for adults with HIV/AIDS.

"There was a lease and monthly rental payments by Harlem United," the source said, noting that the victim's name was on the lease.

The Post has not been able to determine whether the maid, 32, has HIV/AIDS because of medical confidentiality laws. But the agency rents apartments only for adults with the virus, an employee said.

The woman, whose lawyer said she had testified before a Manhattan grand jury yesterday, moved in January to another High Bridge apartment rented by Harlem United. A spokeswoman for the maid's lawyer also confirmed her address.


yea...
 
It's untrue, they showed him.
The rest of the article has classic subtle francophobia (cowardice, womanizer, depraved :blahblah: )

This one is more fun
Diplomat scofflaws should be thrown out of New York - NYPOST.com

wow! can his lawyers sue then? apparently they threatened the major channels? i live in france but get British tv instead to stop my kids losing their English (that's my excuse anyway lol), so haven't seen any French footage myself, just going by what i've seen in the news...

yeah, it's not as if the terms "cowardice, womanizer, and depraved" are exclusive to France lol
 
there is a lot I don't know about this case, I not sure I want to spend a lot of time, researching and cross fact-checking,

he just got 1 million dollar bail, I can't imagine he will not skip out - if there is any chance he can do any serious jail time.
 
there is a lot I don't know about this case, I not sure I want to spend a lot of time, researching and cross fact-checking,

he just got 1 million dollar bail, I can't imagine he will not skip out - if there is any chance he can do any serious jail time.


as I said, there is a lot I don't know
apparently this is not the 'standard' bail release. the special conditions will make it difficult for him to skip out.
 
wow! can his lawyers sue then? apparently they threatened the major channels? i live in france but get British tv instead to stop my kids losing their English (that's my excuse anyway lol), so haven't seen any French footage myself, just going by what i've seen in the news...

yeah, it's not as if the terms "cowardice, womanizer, and depraved" are exclusive to France lol
I would just say the journalistic laws and approach to celebrity clusterfuck scandals in France are different. French papers are publishing editorials currently about the frustration of how the American press does not understand French journalism. There is a sentiment (as I understand it) in France that the elite, or officials of high rank, should be treated with respect by the media. Almost an old world class system kind of thing. So something like photos of this guy in handcuffs or looking desolate in court are in poor taste to the French.
 
yes, French journalism is very different indeed - for one thing, there are very strict privacy laws in France, and strict laws to protect the individual, from defamation etc. People in general, and especially journalists, have to be very careful in their choice of words... not so dissimilar to Italy, for example, where Amanda Knox is now being sued for her claims re. how she was allegedly treated by the police for instance (just one media example that springs to mind)...

it's true the French media have always pretty much kept out of politicians' private lives... it was well-known for example that Mitterand and Chirac both had mistresses, but they were never tabloid fodder - we don't have the same kind of tabloid press here - nothing like in the UK... although it's a bit different with Sarkozy, as his relationship with Bruni has been in the media spotlight from the start, which they both seemed to embrace... really, they're France's first "celebrity" politicians...

i think the idea of "respect" for hierarchy is quite ingrained in French society to be honest - the French are very formal and can be quite conservative in their relationships... here, in the countryside, teachers for instance get a lot of respect from parents - it's very unusual for parents to challenge teachers' decisions (very different to my experience in the UK), same goes for the police... i've seen a few people here try to intimidate others and gain respect by claiming they have a family member who is a high-ranking policeman lol!! it can be quite hilarious sometimes...
 
Seems strange that she found herself in a situation where she was alone with him. I've stayed at some swanky hotels and I've always had chambermaids come to my room in teams of two. Never alone. Without wanting to sound judgemental without knowing all the facts it **seems** that he offered her payment for a "personal service" and things got out of hand.
 
Seems strange that she found herself in a situation where she was alone with him. I've stayed at some swanky hotels and I've always had chambermaids come to my room in teams of two. Never alone. Without wanting to sound judgemental without knowing all the facts it **seems** that he offered her payment for a "personal service" and things got out of hand.

But you are being judgmental without knowing all the facts-by just saying that it "seems" he offered her some sort of payment. What facts support such a conclusion? So now she's a prostitute? What has been reported is that she entered the room to clean it because it was supposed to be empty. How and why she thought that, well that hasn't been reported yet. But I think we can refrain from assuming that she was selling herself, at least until there are some sort of facts to establish such a thing-and that doesn't include what he alleges, or what his lawyers allege.

Because she's a hotel maid and he's the head of the IMF-well those facts have no relevance as far as reaching a conclusion that it seems he offered her payment for any sort of "personal service".



(Reuters) - Angry French feminists say local media have been awash with male chauvinist comments since the arrest of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges he attempted to rape a New York hotel maid.

Feminist organisations published a petition saying they were "stunned by the daily flood of misogynist comments by public figures" since the French former finance minister was detained. He denies the charges and is currently on bail.

In their statement, the feminists said friends and allies of Strauss-Kahn had downplayed the plight of the alleged victim in their rush to defend the Socialist, who until his fall was well placed to beat President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 elections.

The lawyer for the maid said his client was a 32-year-old widow from the West African nation of Guinea, who has a daughter aged 15.

"We do not know what happened in New York on Saturday May 14, but we know what has been happening in France in the past week. We are witnessing a sudden rise of sexist and reactionary reflexes, so quick to surface among part of the French elite," the groups said in a statement on the website of Le Monde.

Organised by groups including "Osez le feminisme" and "La Barbe", the petition was signed by more than a 1,000 women, including TV journalist Audrey Pulvar, whose partner Arnaud Montebourg is bidding to be the Socialist candidate next year.

"There is a certain impunity in France when it comes to this kind of uninhibited sexism," the groups said.

The groups said that 75,000 women were raped in France every year and that sexist language in public tended to minimise the gravity of crime, turning it into a vague and more or less acceptable act.

The groups referred to specific statements, including one by former culture minister and Strauss-Kahn ally Jack Lang, who said Strauss-Kahn should have been released on bail earlier, considering that "nobody has died".

Journalist Jean-François Kahn, no relation, denied rape had taken place and dismissed the affair as "troussage de domestique", a phrase that evokes a master having non-consensual sex with a servant.

A friend of Strauss-Kahn and his journalist wife Anne Sinclair, Kahn later apologized for the remark.

"This kind of language generates an intolerable confusion between sexual freedom and violence towards women. Violent acts, rape, attempted rape and harassment are all the mark of men's desire to dominate women's bodies," the feminist groups said.
 
(Reuters) - Angry French feminists say local media have been awash with male chauvinist comments since the arrest of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges he attempted to rape a New York hotel maid.

Feminist organisations published a petition saying they were "stunned by the daily flood of misogynist comments by public figures" since the French former finance minister was detained. He denies the charges and is currently on bail.

In their statement, the feminists said friends and allies of Strauss-Kahn had downplayed the plight of the alleged victim in their rush to defend the Socialist, who until his fall was well placed to beat President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 elections.

The lawyer for the maid said his client was a 32-year-old widow from the West African nation of Guinea, who has a daughter aged 15.

"We do not know what happened in New York on Saturday May 14, but we know what has been happening in France in the past week. We are witnessing a sudden rise of sexist and reactionary reflexes, so quick to surface among part of the French elite," the groups said in a statement on the website of Le Monde.

Organised by groups including "Osez le feminisme" and "La Barbe", the petition was signed by more than a 1,000 women, including TV journalist Audrey Pulvar, whose partner Arnaud Montebourg is bidding to be the Socialist candidate next year.

"There is a certain impunity in France when it comes to this kind of uninhibited sexism," the groups said.

The groups said that 75,000 women were raped in France every year and that sexist language in public tended to minimise the gravity of crime, turning it into a vague and more or less acceptable act.

The groups referred to specific statements, including one by former culture minister and Strauss-Kahn ally Jack Lang, who said Strauss-Kahn should have been released on bail earlier, considering that "nobody has died".

Journalist Jean-François Kahn, no relation, denied rape had taken place and dismissed the affair as "troussage de domestique", a phrase that evokes a master having non-consensual sex with a servant.

A friend of Strauss-Kahn and his journalist wife Anne Sinclair, Kahn later apologized for the remark.

"This kind of language generates an intolerable confusion between sexual freedom and violence towards women. Violent acts, rape, attempted rape and harassment are all the mark of men's desire to dominate women's bodies," the feminist groups said.

yeah, it's about time France was called out on its awful ingrained attitudes to women... god, some of the things being said by quite prominent figures are disgusting, i'm ashamed of this country sometimes i really am!
 
Is there another word that can be used for rape? Maybe 'unwanted agrression'. It seems that the word rape is really strong in this case.

What bothers me about cases such as this is that so much of his lifes work is destroyed by this case. He may be doing really valid things in the world and they are slighted because of this. Not that I am condonning his behaviour.
 
according to the press, people have been extremely shocked and in denial, especially as DSK was tipped to be the great hope for the Socialist party, and was expected to announce he would be running in the French presidential elections next year... so yeah, it is a massive blow to the Socialist party as, whether he is innocent or guilty, his political career is basically over anyway...

obviously there's the whole "innocent til proven guilty" thing, not to mention loads of conspiracy theories (stitch-up by Sarkozy, etc.), there have been rumours of alleged predatory sexual behaviour in the past, and there have been some horrible flippant comments from DSK's supporters which are just patronising and offensive to women in general... the upper echelons of French society are notoriously sexist and chauvinistic, sadly...
 
Is there another word that can be used for rape? Maybe 'unwanted agrression'. It seems that the word rape is really strong in this case.

What bothers me about cases such as this is that so much of his lifes work is destroyed by this case. He may be doing really valid things in the world and they are slighted because of this. Not that I am condonning his behaviour.

No. If the charges do in fact include "forced oral sex" as it states in the story linked in the first post, that is still rape.

And as for your second paragraph, then maybe he (allegedly) should have thought of that before (allegedly) raping this woman.

The good things he's done in the world won't be undone by this. They'll still have happened. And there will be other people who will still be able to do good things. ".... but he's done a lot of good" should not enter into this conversation at all.
 
^ Actually, in New York rape specifically means non-consensual intercourse. Non-consensual oral sex would be a "criminal sexual act." DSK is being accused of (among other things) attempted rape.
 
Oh, okay. Thanks for clarifying. I was hoping this wasn't going to turn into one of those Whoopi Goldberg "rape-rape" things, but I didn't know there was a legal definition of one over the other.

Which is kind of a shame, because I think most women would still consider themselves as having been raped. And then to have someone - including the law - "well, it wasn't really rape" is a bit of insult to injury.
 
In NY "rape," "criminal sexual acts" and "sodomy" (anal rape) are all class B felonies, meaning they all carry a penalty of up to 25 years in prison, depending on the usual factors (prior criminal record, level of violence involved, etc.). I don't disagree with your basic point, but they do have to draw distinctions somewhere when defining various forms of sexual assault, and it's just the nature of these kinds of crimes that one can't generalize and say, "Trauma to the victim from offense type X is more/less than that from offense type Y."
 
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I have to agree with that - the law has to be very specific for a multitude of reasons.

I was more reacting to the two poins in canedge's post. While it turns out that yes, "rape" in this case may be too strong a word because of that legal definition in NY, the way I read it, that's not what he was saying.

Apologies if I misread the intent of that statement, but combined with the part about his "good work," it read to me like you felt that overall this seemed "overblown" or "unfair."
 
Yeah, I agree; even under the NY definitions, either he *attempted* to rape her (as is charged, in addition to the forced oral sex and groping) or he didn't. And if he did, well, that act is what it is; it's not just generic "aggression," but a specific criminal offense.
 
Is there another word that can be used for rape? Maybe 'unwanted agrression'. It seems that the word rape is really strong in this case.

What bothers me about cases such as this is that so much of his lifes work is destroyed by this case. He may be doing really valid things in the world and they are slighted because of this. Not that I am condonning his behaviour.
I think his life's work is completely irrelevant. It doesn't matter if he cleans toilets or if he's the Pope, a crime is a crime and he should not be looked upon any more favorably than anyone else because of his 'valid work'. That's quite an elitist view, if you don't mind me saying.
 
yeah, seems like it's DSK himself is who may have destroyed his life's work, not "this incident."

this is a criminal case, nothing at all like most political affairs (like Clinton-Lewinsky) which i agree have no bearing at all on one's ability to perform a job, at least insofar as they are not engaging in outright gross hypocrisy when it comes to policy (like Gingrich) or actively harming a community they've politically demonized and sought to punish and destroy (like closeted Republicans).

of course, if he's innocent and this was some elaborate set-up, i might be inclined to agree that it's a tragedy, and yes, he is innocent until proven guilty. but, at the moment, doesn't seem to look good ...
 
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