We Don't Believe Her

The attempted rape case of former IMF head Strauss-Kahn looks like it's heading for the skids.

Prosecutors acknowledged that there were significant credibility issues with the hotel housekeeper who accused Mr. Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her in May. In a brief hearing at State Supreme Court in Manhattan, prosecutors did not oppose his release; the judge then freed Mr. Strauss-Kahn on his own recognizance.

Seems we're hearing all sorts of nasty about the maid. The victim's lawyer came out swingin'.

 

 

There is DNA, a physical exam showing bruising and other forensic evidence:

Every inch of her body was inspected for bruising and other evidence. They took her clothes away for traces of sperm and other DNA samples. In Strauss-Kahn’s hotel room the cops looked for mingled saliva and sperm in the sink and on the rug. Strauss-Kahn’s DNA reportedly was found on the maid’s shirt. If, as has also been reported in the press, there is evidence of Strauss-Kahn’s blood from a struggle with the maid, then according to one prosecution source familiar with such cases, his only real hope will be to attack the maid’s testimony. His lawyers have hinted they may argue the sex was consensual.

Forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn and the woman.

Of course credibility is now in play, against a maid. Yes, the maid, who cleans toilets for a living, is now a major criminal, scammer, liar and thug.

According to the two officials, the woman had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Mr. Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

That man, the investigators learned, had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds of marijuana. He is among a number of individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman’s bank account over the last two years. The deposits were made in Arizona, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania.

The investigators also learned that she was paying hundreds of dollars every month in phone charges to five companies. The woman had insisted she had only one phone and said she knew nothing about the deposits except that they were made by a man she described as her fiancé and his friends.

In addition, one of the officials said, she told investigators that her application for asylum included mention of a previous rape, but there was no such account in the application. She also told them that she had been subjected to genital mutilation, but her account to the investigators differed from what was contained in the asylum application.

Look, she's a tax and welfare cheat too:

The woman also admitted to the prosecutors that she had misrepresented her income to qualify for her housing, and had declared a friend’s child — in addition to her own daughter — as a dependent on tax returns to increase her tax refund.

The Strauss-Kahn case will be the oral sex was consensual. Well, well, how many maids come into hotel rooms and just offer up some sex act free of charge?

Most interesting that large corporate backers of Strauss-Kahn want him to run for the presidency of France:

Strauss-Kahn was one of the front-runners for the Socialist nod to run for president before his May arrest. Socialist candidates have until July 13 to declare, with the primary set for October.

Backers of Strauss-Kahn asked for a delay in the election process if it turns out he will not face charges of sexually assaulting a maid in a pricey Midtown hotel.

"If Dominique Strauss-Kahn is cleared, I ask the Socialist Party to suspend the primary process," said party member Michele Sabban.

Before his sudden arrest, polls indicated Strauss-Kahn was the leading candidate to defeat incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy in next May's election.

What a surprise. Let's see, an IMF chief raping Greece and demanding austerity gets busted for a sexual assault on a maid. France erupts in outrage. Due to the forensic evidence the only hope is to turn the case into a he said, she said and claim the sex was consensual. One month later, that maid is just some scum bucket liar who goes around giving head at will to patrons of rooms she happens to be cleaning. Amazing isn't it?

Meta: 

Comments

Economic aspect of the case

In my poorly titled comment at Michael Collins' blog on the prosecution of John Edwards, I cited the analysis by Forest Cookson on the potential conspiracy and market manipulation aspects of anything like the Strauss-Kahn matter:

DebateRX.com (May 2011): Deep doings at the IMF

Cookson writes, including considerable detail, in these terms:

"... making hundreds of millions of dollars or losing a similar amount.  I can afford a bribe of one million dollars for the maid to make up this story."

Of course, it's all speculation; however, to my mind, the potential for using criminal prosecutions and scandal to accomplish market manipulation objectives is the significance of the Strauss-Kahn case, which I would rather not see tried on the internet although I understand the point that Robert Oak is making and his indignation at the apparent classism involved.

Fundamentally, the problem is over-concentrations of power. It's like when corruption in the government of the People's Republic of China is noted on the internet or in even in corporate media. How could the highly centralized government of the PRC not be corrupt?

The basic point underlying the work of Henry C. Simons is that an economic system, to be compatible with the goals set forth by the Founders in the Declaration of Independence, must be designed to break up concentrations of power, including concentrations of wealth. Absent that, we may as well consign ourselves to living in a world that regularly produces 'news' stories of this type (regardless of what she said or what he did).

 

Agreed on the point about the Founders

I'm going to check Simmons out. He's right on the inconsistency between our concentrated kleptocracy and the intent of the founders on the basis for our civil society. It's as inconsistent as was the disparity between the lofty and true words of the Declaration and the institution of slavery.

Having said that, Cookson's first explanation is probably right. The crooks will do anything to make a buck and not lose an inch.

Happy 4th of July!

French Journalist files attempted rape against Strauss-Kahn

That's 3 now. A French Journalist is filing an attempted rape charge against Strauss-Kahn from 2002 in France. AP:

Tristane Banon, 31, says she plans to file a criminal complaint Tuesday accusing Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her in 2002.

Believe this or not, Strauss-Kahn is filing a slander lawsuit against the woman who has been telling the story since 2007.

One would think three strikes you're out, regardless of the women's backgrounds and other issues. (The first being the one who felt "forced" to have an affair with Strauss-Kahn at the IMF or lose her position).

Surely there is a 4th considering these stories coming out.