The leader of the influential and powerful International Monetary Fund (IMF) today stands accused of attempted rape of a New York City hotel maid, where he was staying while in the U.S.
Yesterday 62-year old Frenchmen Dominque Strauss-Kahn was removed from an Air France flight en route to Paris from NYC because earlier a 32-year old Sofitel Hotel maid had acussed Strauss-Kahn of a violent sexual assault. Today he has been formally charged with attempted rape and a host of other charges.
The IMF is considered the most important global financial institution in the world and is critical to developing nations in Latin America and elsewhere that are addressing issues of economic inequality. Strauss-Kahn is considered critical in the European bailout talks and for helping to ease the economic global crisis. Mexico was just approved for its largest IMF credit line in history at $72 billion.
The maid alleges, while cleaning, Strauss-Kahn exited the bathroom of the $3,000/night suite naked, chased her, pulling her into the bathroom where he forced her to perform oral sex all while attempting to remove her underwear. The unidentified woman managed to escape and immediately notified hotel staff.
Straus-Kahn, who has faced a prior accusation of an inappropriate relationship with a female employee and was cleared, was also the leading contender for the French presidency and was expected to challenge current President Nicolas Sarkozy. He has held his position with IMF since 2007 and is currently married to his third wife Anne Sinclair.
