IMF head/French politician arrested in NYC

[UtwigMU]

In our country some politicians have launched a few smear campaigns directed at opposition from abroad: It is more credible to the public if it comes from foreign police and media than if it comes from locals. Even if it turns out years after elections that accusations were false, the damage has been done.

[Dr Mordrid]

Well, whatever the outcome political pundit, TV, radio & newspaper unemployment numbers won't be at risk

[Dr Mordrid]

Picked out of a lineup -

http://abcnews.go.com/International/imf-chief-dominique-strauss-kahns-wife-defends/story?id=13606952

[Brian Ellis]

Picked out of a lineup -

Surprise, surprise! Even I could have done that and I haven't even met the guy. I wonder how much Sarkozy or one of his henchmen paid to orchestrate the affair. There is nothing dirtier than French politics and S is a past and present master. The next thing will be the Le Pen female will be accused of being a dyke.

[VJ]

I do hope that is not your view either, since it would pertain to arresting someone for being naked in their own hotel room, when a maid accidentally walks in.
I know a lot of US people are God fearing puritans, but thats stretching it too far.

I agree with this... It is not because a maid walks in in a hotelroom where a guy is naked, there is any criminal intent... it could just be bad timing.. The whole thing depends more on how the people act when it happens... (and if it is an true accident; or staged by one of the parties)

A man with his salary could have easily paid for a prostitute and a man in such position is not probably so stupid so as to get caught like this. Or the woman was a prostitute and decided she could get more money out of incident. Or he was set up.

I also consider the whole thing quite fishy... But people in power sometimes do stupid things... Problem with these high profile cases is that the truth hardly ever gets out.

Headlines this morning say DNA was found,

This seems a bit obvious: he stayed in that hotel room... Of course DNA was found...

The speed of info getting out doesn't surprise me.

The problem is that the speed of the info is making it all more biased. Of course the press wants a sexy story: sensation sells. And people smell money, and they expect to be paid more for more sensational details.
The result is thought that larger audience will always remember the first version, so even if he is completely acquitted, the damage has been done...

[dZeus]

This coming a very short time after a photo of himself and his partner 'Anne Sinclair' getting into a Porsche (Panamera I think) which seemed to be controversial also, due to him being head of the IMF and all.
It was generally accepted that the finger was being pointed at Sarkozy's camp as the source of the controversy, getting ready for the next presidential elections next year.

They're also saying on the BBC radio that when he was apprehended, he had left behind some of his belongings, adding fuel to the thought he was doing a runner.

From what is being brandied around here, he got out of the shower stark naked, and then supposedly 'sexually assaulted' a chamber maid.
I'm all for the 'presumed innocent until proven guilty' and especially so in the USA of 'Sue anyone, anything, anytime'.
To me this smells of either someone wanting some money and/or fame, or a very long stretching arm of French politics (smear campaign).

In France there are 3 major political parties : Left wing, right wing, and National Front.
DSK was a leftie, and doing pretty good in the polls lately (until the Porsche incident and now this).
Sarkozy is a rightie, and is very very low in the polls.
National Front is what it is, and gaining lots of ground, 14-18% iirc of the voting population.

What Sarkozy would like to happen, is a political race between the righties, and the National front on the second round of voting, with the lefties out in the first round.
Its how he got in last time as well i think. Everyone knows that National front will never win, but when you have to choose one or the other, then guess who wins.

We'll just have to wait to see how this pans out.

Or maybe he just has a self-control problem which he's been able to get away with all this time, because of his position. The question would be, what was different this time?

[Evildead666]

Or maybe he just has a self-control problem which he's been able to get away with all this time, because of his position. The question would be, what was different this time?

He was seen as one, if not the only, candidate to beat Sarkozy in the next elections.
Most people here don't want Sarko back for another 5 years.

Its a big problem politically here now, its only just begun.

There have been rumours as well of him wanting to modify the Bretton Woods agreements, which apparently wouldn't go down to well with the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_system

[Dr Mordrid]

BTW: according to TV & newspaper reports here the "Criminal sexual act" charge was sodomy.

Occam's Razor says the simplest explanations are the most likely. That generally precludes complex conspiracy theories.

That would indicate that the he did it, the DNA is his jizz where it shouldn't be (her clothes and/or body), and that he fled because of a guilty fear of prosecution.

The DNA forencic exam done on him last night will reveal if and where, and if that hotel has hall security cameras (most high end US hotels do) they may have caught something. She had a rape exam the day of the incident.

[VJ]

Occam's Razor says the simplest explanations are the most likely. That generally precludes complex conspiracy theories.

True... but it is surprising and scary to see how the press is all over it and jumping to conclusions. I'm not saying he did not do it, but with the current media coverage, it will be impossible to clear his name if he did not do it. With the upcoming elections in France, it basically eliminates a major candidate (although if he turns out to be innocent, I think the French might still ignore the whole situation).

That would indicate that the he did it, the DNA is his jizz where it shouldn't be (her clothes?), and that he fled because of a guilty fear of prosecution.

The article states DNA. This could be hairs as well. You assume it is on her clothes, but this is again not stated in the article. The article just mentions DNA was found, not in which form and not specified. This is what I meant with jumping to conclusions.
Just hypothetically: consider the situation Evildead666 describes in his second post: if she started clearing the bedcovers and everything, it is possible for her to have gotten his hair on her dress.
Again, I'm not defending him, but I'm just cautious in believing whatever comes out in the press.

[Dr Mordrid]

A detailed analysis was done on both, she also being treated for injuries which would routinely be photographed - sometimes with UV cams to show subdermal bruising. For a rape exam DNA swabs would be taken from her skin under her clothes, especially in the area of the alleged attack, and internally. If his semen shows in or on her, and especially on her skin under her clothes, he's toast.

[VJ]

As I indicated detailed analysis was done on both, and for a rape exam DNA swabs would be taken from her skin under her clothes, especially in the area of the alleged attack. If his semen shows on and especially under her clothes he's toast.

Detailed analysis was done... but the results have not been made public. Yes, if there are traces then he is toast - and rightfully so...

[Dr Mordrid]

The preliminary results will probably be made public at the arraignment, which was delayed from yesterday so the exams could be performed. When those and the charges are filed they are public and the media will get copies, and sites like thesmokinggun.com will post them.

[Brian Ellis]

Hugh Schofield BBC News, Paris

The first reaction of many ordinary French people is that this has got to be a put-up job. That says more about French political culture, that there have been so many operations mounted against politicians. It has been full of dirty tricks in the past.

IMO, this is the most likely explanation. The maid will receive a handsome cheque from the ruling Party in France. Otherwise, too many contradictions (he is supposed to have locked the door from the bed area, he is supposed to have anally raped her but he was charged only with attempted rape, if he had raped her, he would have had her DNA on his zizi, but the police kept the DNA test on him at low key level - and he did not have time to shower after he allegedly buggered off in a hurry etc,,,).

How about some innocence until proven guilty in a court of law and not by media???

[Jessterw]

How about some innocence until proven guilty in a court of law and not by media???

You answered your own question. Only the courts are bound to such a standard. To expect the media or the general public to not jump to conclusions is not dealing in reality. To most people (here), he looks guilty by the circumstances. That's all the media needs.

[Evildead666]

Having lived here for over 25 years, corruption in the political arena is rife, and known by the public.

That is why most French don't believe it to be true, until the proof becomes fact.

edit : The media here is having a field day, like most of the rest of the world.