Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund and leading French politician, pleaded not guilty to charges to sexually assaulting a maid at a Time Square hotel on May 14. When he walked into the courthouse, witnesses told CityRoom that protesters from the hotel workers union yelled, "Shame on you!"
Strauss-Kahn is accused of trying to rape a housekeeper, a 32-year-old African immigrant who lives in the Bronx, and then forcing her to perform oral sex on him in his suite. Police believe the accuser's story as the defense claims the encounter was consensual and has more recently insinuated the accuser is not credible. The allegations have rattled France, for both images of Strauss-Kahn's perp walk and court appearances and raising questions of powerful figures and preying on women.
After being held at Rikers—and even being put on suicide watch—the 62-year-old international political figure is currently out on $6 million bail and living in a $14 million Tribeca townhouse that rents for $50,000/month. Strauss-Kahn must also pay for his $200,000/month security, but that shouldn't be a problem since his wife is a billionaire.
The NY Times has a lengthy article looking at the case and suggests that a plea deal is highly unlikely. A former prosecutors says, "This is a case that’s going to trial. You’re not going to offer him a plea that’s a nonjail disposition — Vance would look foolish if he did that. And the defendant, he’s got a perception of himself that doesn’t permit him to stand up and say, ‘I raped that woman.’" It's also questionable whether Strauss-Kahn's past alleged questionable incidents with women will be admissible.
