On Sunday, Port Authority police detectives pulled International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn off of an Air France flight in John F. Kennedy International Airport departing for Paris and arrested him for allegedly sexually assaulting a New York hotel housekeeping employee, attempted rape, and unlawful imprisonment. He was then taken into the Manhattan police Special Victims Unit for questioning and a forensic exam.
The woman, a 32-year-old African immigrant, stated that Strauss-Kahn attacked her after pulling her into his $3,000 per night hotel room. The woman stated she eventually was able to escape and was treated for minor injuries at Roosevelt Hospital. IMF Director of External Relations Caroline Atkinson issued the following statement: “IMF Managing Director Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York City. Mr. Strauss-Kahn has retained legal counsel, and the IMF has no comment on the case; all inquiries will be referred to his personal lawyer and to the local authorities.”
In 2008, Strauss-Kahn admitted to having inappropriate relations with a woman employee at IMF, although the IMF executive board stated at the time that “there was no harassment, favoritism or any other abuse of authority by the managing director.” Prior to becoming managing director of IMF in 2007, Strauss-Kahn served as a former French finance minister, national legislator, and economics professor. He has been leading in the polls in France not only as the Socialist Party presidential candidate but also against incumbent President Sarkozy.
