IMF President Dominique Strauss-Kahn last week was widely viewed as heading to the French Presidency. He is now viewed this week as more likely to head to an American jail. In an extraordinary criminal complaint, Strauss-Kahn is described as a sexual predator who spontaneously assaulted a hotel maid. And we thought former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz was an embarrassment.
[UPDATE: Strauss-Kahn has been declared a flight risk and denied bond. Given his effort to leave the country, this is not too surprising. However, it is not clear why an electronic bracelet cannot be used in such a case.]
The account that has emerged resembles an international version of “Bonfire of the Vanities.” The recent case of Moshe Katsav comes to mind where an international leader proved to be a rapist.
What is fascinating is that the IMF was well-aware of Strauss-Kahn’s reputation for affairs with subordinates and his nickname “The Great Seducer.” However, it appears he may be more of “The Great Assaulter” given the account of the 32-year-old maid. Strauss-Kahn, 62, had just checked into the luxury Sofitel hotel in a $3,000 a night suite ( pretty pricey digs for a guy who started his political career as a member of the Union of Communist Students and was the leading Socialist candidate for President of France). Strauss-Kahn allegedly came out of the bathroom naked and chased her down a hallway and forced her into a bedroom. He then reportedly forced her to give him oral sex. She said she was able to break away and escape. She ran and told the staff.
What then unfolded is right out of a movie. Strauss-Kahn left the hotel so fast that he left his cellphone in the room. He was sitting in first-class on a flight to France that was about to taxi to the runway when police arrested him. He was then identified by the woman in a line up.
The contemporary account given by the woman and her injuries treated at the hospital makes for a particularly strong basis for a criminal case. Her selection of Strauss-Kahn in a lineup obviously reinforces that case. Finally, the reportedly rapid departure from the hotel will not sit well with the jury. We have not heard his side of this case but his attorney has a steep climb to get him into a better position. If this allegation is ultimately supported, one might expect to hear of additional cases since this sounds like an individual who was unable to control such impulses. Such extreme cases are rarely isolated and tend to be the end of a pattern. There will be an obvious interest by detectives in any modus operandi evidence and whether he had committed such assaults in the past and gotten away with it. That is not to say that Strauss-Kahn has such a history but this is very extreme alleged conduct and will likely be a focus of the police.
It will also be interesting to see if there is a claim of medication or some other influence producing this violent reaction.
It looks like, either way this goes, the Socialists will have to find another candidate. They might want to start with someone who does not need a $3000 a night hotel room or a criminal lawyer on retainer.
Source: Yahoo
Kay:
“Do you think that men with money and power are more likely to be into sexual control and humiliation than ordinary guys?”
No. I think it depends on the person. But people who have certain types of positions, such as politicians, may be more into subjugation than other people. They already have a “will” for power.
A good many people with money dont start out to be rich, it just happens over time based on their hard work and a little luck. They are focused on tasks and service, not on power. This is not to say that all rich people are moral actors, they arent.
I think those who have a will to power over others would be prime candidates. This man has a good deal of power over others, so do politicians.
Just an observation after reading the comments here: whatever happened to “innocent until proven guilty?”
Regarding the judge refusing bond:
He must be regarded as a major flight risk. I have a couple of questions. What is the law on a judge confiscating the passport of a foreign national? And if he did confiscate a passport, would that still stop a foreign national from leaving this country for his own country?
Keep in mind this guy has access to enough money to charter his own long-range jet that could take off from almost any airport. He does not have to go through a terminal or fly commercial.
Kay,
Answer the questions….
Mike S., OS, all the others….
Excellent points….
Mike S.,
I agree that this guy is a pig or maybe he is worse than the slime that pigs wallow in. I am glad to see the judge did not grant bail because this guy is a serious flight risk.
Um, # = $. Dollar sign. Fingers outrunning brain and eyes.
Just announced: Judge refused offer of #1M bail. Remanded to custody.
Over on DKos, Chicago area attorney “agnostic” has a thoughtful essay on the matter with some additional background on the accused. Some speculation of course, but we have to keep our hands on our wallets in today’s financial climate.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/16/976492/-The-Strauss-Kahn-arrest?detail=hide
OK, everybody. Listen up. Sexual predators come in all sizes and shapes, from all walks of life, all ages and both sexes. They can look like the people next door or your own kid. Some are wealthy and some live in poverty. You cannot tell by looking. They can look like anybody.
Motivations vary, but they seem to have one thing in common. Their own pleasure is first and foremost. For some sexual predators, their own orgasm is worth more than the life of their victim. Most of these folks are capable of the most amazing mental gymnastics to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Power and control is a big thing. Some want to stick it in another persons bodily orifices, others just get off on humiliating their victim.
Some people are charged and convicted of being sexual predators in statutory rape cases, but more often than not, those involve one person being a little over the age of consent and the boyfriend or girlfriend being a bit underage. Many of those are judicial travesties. I do not consider those to be in the same class as persons charged with an offense such as the allegations against Mr. Strauss-Kahn.
Mike S.,
You got it right!
He was not granted bail.
Well I read about his alleged alibi. It doesn’t sound possible to me. Even if someone was going to pay off the maid, they already took DNA from her body and that must be under lock and key.
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/16/strauss_kahn_rape_case_imf_chief_forced_to_undergo_dna_testing_.html
I have often stated hear that I’ve come to the belief that our world is not run based on “isms” of a political/social/economic
philosophy, but by egotists, narcissists and sociopaths. This goes for both the “Left” and “Right” as we see here with this French Socialist. Along with this pathology, with the world really run by men, comes a sense of entitlement regarding the abuse of women. We
all know far too well the various instances illustrating this in past and current history. The guy seems a pig and if so, I hope he gets jail time.
Kay,
Are you speaking from personal experience…… Just answer the question…
Do you think that men with money and power are more likely to be into sexual control and humiliation than ordinary guys?
But SWM it is power and control or lack of it…..
rcampbell It is not only those with money and power that are serial rapists.
Kay,
Unless your first post to SWM was asking her if she was addicted to Prostitutes…Then I do not think so….well….I am almost certain of the fact that she is not…. But you may need to ask her yourself…..