Former International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn told a French court that he was unaware of the “prostitutional character” of women involved in orgies at luxury hotels in Paris and Washington D.C. were prostitutes. The much ridiculed defense is only the latest development in a bizarre criminal prosecution in France, where prostitution is legal but not soliciting or running a prostitution business – a curious line to draw for criminal cases.
The 65-year-old economist appears not to have been especially interested in the economic reasons for their participation and must have just assumed that these younger women were simply drawn to him and 13 co-defendants in orgies that centered on the Hotel Carlton in Lille, France.
The case highlights the strange approach to prostitution in France. Many in this country question the criminalization of prostitution between consenting adults when adults are allowed in have sex on film for money and can obviously have sex with as many partners as they like for free. Moreover, there is often a blurred line when such relationship involve ample gifts like the controversial relationship between Donald Sterling and his much younger girlfriend. Yet there remains a strong opposition to prostitution on moral grounds as well as the view that the practice is harmful and discriminatory to women.
Many countries have legalized prostitution but France has this curious differentiation. The no solicitation law appears to be directed at street walkers and is found in other countries. A person can charge for sex but cannot engage in racolage (soliciting), including racolage passif or passive soliciting. That is fairly standard since one of the benefits of legalization is viewed as regulating the practice and forcing it indoors. However, there is also a prohibition on advertising which is in conflict with the notion of a legal practice (though we have restricted product advertising like alcohol and tobacco). The more curious distinction is the criminalization of proxénétisme (procuring) which includes “helping or protecting someone to prostitute themselves profiting from the prostitution of another or receiving funds from someone who prostitutes themselves habitually hiring or training someone to prostitute themselves or pressuring someone to prostitute themselves.” That would seem to criminalize the management of such businesses. Indeed, there is a move in France to add penalties for “johns.” The result is a somewhat conflicted approach in France, which is now one of the more hostile nations toward prostitution while still allowing prostitution on some level. What is missing is a clear and coherent approach as revealed in this case.
Prostitutes in the case have said that Strauss-Kahn organized orgies between 2009 and 2011 at luxury hotels in Paris, at a restaurant in the French capital and also in Washington. That would obviously undermine the notion of a lack of knowledge of their “prostitutional character” even if the orgies themselves did not create some suspicions. Moreover, one prostitute accused Strauss-Kahn of committing brutal sex acts with her. Again, Strauss-Kahn seems to be arguing that he thought that this much younger woman simply wanted to be brutalized and have sex with him and his friends.
In his defense, Strauss-Kahn insisted that there were only 12 orgies in 3 years. That I believe was intended to help his case.
Beldar here. We are from France! That is my by-line when people ask what a conehead is. But, where do you Americans come from with this hypocrite thing about prostitution? What is “an arranged marriage”? Huh? You have those.
wadewilliams: we´ve got a Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning president. Let´s see if that will help avoid war with Russia.
FWIW, here is what the woman in question herself says about Clinton: “I have seen reports saying or implying that I had sex with former President Bill Clinton on Little Saint James Island. Former President Bill Clinton was present on the Island at a time when I was also present on the Island, but I have never had sexual relations with Clinton, nor have I ever claimed to have had such relations. I have never seen him have sexual relations with anyone.” page 12, # 53
http://www.local10.com/blob/view/-/30847372/data/2/-/q22316/-/Virginia-Roberts-affidavit.pdf
The big question is should we be happy that The Enquirer exposed ‘the sleazeball, lying sack of shit John Edwards?
I thought that’s what you think we have now – a sleazeball lying sack of shit. I believe we have a commenter who, on a rare occasion, has mentioned that he is the worst president ever.
It’s so hard to track these conflicting opinions when you are a Neanderthal.
Hi ya, Nicky!
You’re right! The Enquirer has a long string of world rocking Pulitzer prize winning thought pieces on who is screwing who. You know … all the stuff about governing and policy that effects the lives of Americans and the world.
I wonder how many grads from Columbia have been lucky enough to land one of those prize Enquirer jobs. You know – the jobs that that have them sitting in darkened cars with video cams eating Cheetos – when they aren’t out hunting two-headed babies.
Wadewilliams – there is some news I will not believe until I see it on the cover of the National Enquirer. For example, Bruce Jenner and his sex change.
LOL, Paul. Regarding your response to Mark.
fyi, As you know, if it weren’t for the Enquirer, the sleazeball, lying sack o’ shit John Edwards might be prez. The MSM buried that one until they could no longer. They also broke Gary Hart being a liar and philanderer as well. And lest this Neanderthal lefty think they be only hitting Dems, they also reported on Bob Dole being quite randy and were the first to report on Rush Limbaugh eating Oxycontin like they were M&M’s. There are more, but those might keep his yap shut for awhile.
fyi
You’ve come to the right blog with your ‘world rocking scoop’ from tTe Enquirer. We have experts who have spent a career sitting in cars eating Cheetos while making secret videotapes of slimy types.
Then they’re off to the Carlyle bar for drinks and gossip with powerful political savants.
Steve F
You need to get on the Paul S Breaking News Alert Service. DSK and Annie divorced in 2013.
How ironic that women against him were throwing themselves naked on his car as he arrived at the courthouse. Why do so many women throw themselves at him?
fyi, Hillary has James Carville stalking those women as we speak. This time it’s the Baby Bimbette Eruption Team. The fat woman is not going to be prez.