Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund, was arrested on Saturday and charged with attempted rape for allegedly sexually assaulting a maid at his New York hotel room. Port Authority cops removed the 62-year-old Frenchman, a likely Sarkozy challenger in the French presidential 2012 election, from his Air France flight to Paris two minutes before takeoff at Kennedy Airport. According to the New York Post:
Specifically, Strauss-Kahn forced his housekeeper to perform oral sex on him, according to a report in the Daily News (the cover of which reads “Le Perv” today). Strauss-Kahn left his cell phone and other personal items in the room, allegedly trying to flee. According to the Post, he has a special arrangement with Air France that allows him to get on any flight and sit in first class. Strauss-Kahn does not, however, have diplomatic immunity, and he’s expected to be brought to court today. His lawyer, Ben Brafman, said that his client will plead not guilty. Strauss-Kahn’s arrest, obviously, will not be helpful to his presidential aspirations.
French IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn hauled off plane at JFK, accused of assaulting hotel maid [NYDN]
IMF head Strauss-Kahn charged with attempted rape of hotel maid [NYP]
Update: The IMF on Sunday named John Lipsky acting managing director, as Strauss-Kahn awaits arraignment. Lipsky is a former U.S. Treasury executive and onetime banker at JP Morgan who has been overseeing the logistics of the bailout of the Greek economy. He’s meeting with members of IMF board in D.C. today. [NYT]
Update: Police say the Manhattan hotel maid who made the accusations picked the Frenchman out of a lineup Sunday afternoon. Strauss-Kahn’s court date was put off until Monday while authorities examined him at a hospital for evidence. Strauss-Kahn spent most of Sunday at the Manhattan Special Victims Unit in East Harlem. Prosecutors may have been gathering DNA evidence on his skin or beneath his fingernails. His lawyer said the Frenchman agreed to “a scientific forensic examination” and described his client as “tired but fine.” [NYP, NYT]
