Dominique Strauss-Kahn Pleads Not Guilty

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 6, 2011
All Rights Reserved.                                         

            Pleading not guilty to New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus, 62-year-old former International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Strauss-Khan denied allegations of attempted rape.  Accused of sexual assualt by a 32-year-old Nigerian maid at New York’s posh Sofitel Hotel, Strauss-Khan, with his heiress journalist wife Anne Sinclair by his side, denied the charges.  Slated as the frontrunner to succeed French President Nicloas Sarkozy in next year’s elections, Strauss-Khan wrecked his political career, now facing up to 25 years in New York prison. Strauss-Khan has been under house arrest with 24/7 electronic monitoring since posting $5 million cash bail May 20.  His defense attorney Ben Brafman confidently expected to win his client’s eventual acquittal after today’s five-minute long arraignment.  Dominique Strauss-Khan pleaded not guilty to all charges.

            Brafman expects to mount a rigorous defense, largely based on a “consensual” sexual relationship, whatever that means.  Since the 32-year-old mother of a 15-year-old teenage girl and 6-year hotel employee accuses Strauss-Khan of attempted rape, Brafman will have to show some nefarious history, perhaps one of drug abuse or prostitution.  “It will be clear that there was no element of forcible compulsion in this case whatsoever.  Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not credible,” said Brafman, not explaining what his client was doing on a plane ready for take-off to France only hours after the alleged incident.  Media reports indicate that the police have confirmed Strauss-Kahn’s semen on the maid’s dress and carpet of the hotel room.  She alleged that Strauss-Kahn came out of the shower naked and sexually assaulted her while was cleaning the room, something far from a consensual encounter.

            No matter what Brafman does to discredit the victim, he’s going to be hard-pressed convincing a jury that a 32-year-old African maid was seeking a “consensual” sexual relationship with an old-looking 62-year-old grandpa.  If Brafman wants to accuse the maid of hooking, it makes more sense.  “We will defend this case in the courtroom, “ said Brafman, refusing to answer reporters’ questions or give any details.  “The victim wants you to know that al of Dominique Strauss-Kakn’s power, money and influence throughout the world will not keep the truth about what he did to her in that hotel room from coming out,” said victim’s attorney Kenneth Thomson.  At the time of the May 16 incident, Strauss-Kahn was staying, at the IMF’s expense, at a $3,000 a night luxury suite near Times Square, Manhattan.  Strauss-Kahn now rents $50,000 a month Tribeca townhouse where he’s under house arrest.

            Consensual sexual relationships usually involve some degree of knowing the party either through a prior social contract or by an illegal sexual solicitation.  How Brafman expects to show the relationship as consensual is anyone’s guess.  Given the age discrepancy, it’s difficult to imagine she fell in love with the distinguished white-haired gentleman.  While Brafman wants to plant the seed and control the message today, he’s going to have to answer why his client nearly escaped the U.S., taking the next flight to Paris out of JFK.  New York police officials intercepted him, literally grounding his flight prior to takeoff.  Flight from the crime scene is presumed guilt in most criminal cases.  Establishing a “consensual” sexual relationship will stretch credulity to the breaking point, knowing that neither the victim nor the perpetrator had any prior relationship before the alleged incident.

            Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s May 16 arrest for sexual assault could not have come at a worse time for the IMF.  Arguing that the U.S.-backed agency should control world’s reserve currency just lost all credibility.  If Strauss-Kahn were really “set up” or framed, it’s doubtful he would have resigned his post May 19.  Innocent parties, victims of false accusations, protest loudly their injustice.  When Strauss-Kahn told Justice Obus he was “not guilty,” it was the first peep out of the otherwise garrulous former head of the IMF.  Charged with attempted rape, sex abuse, a criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching, Strauss-Kahn faces up to 25-years in New York state prison.  When the New York Police Dept. confirmed the presence of Strauss-Kahn’s genetic material, Brafman said forensic evidence “will not be consisted with a forcible encounter,” a tall order to fill.

            Strauss-Kahn’s defense team has a lot of explaining to do, how a 32-year-old, six-year Sofitel employee suddenly became involved in a “consensual” sexual relationship with someone she didn’t know.  Consensual sexual relationships either involve prior social knowledge or a prostitution agreement.  Why she would become sexually involved with a 62-year-old hotel guess is anyone’s guess.  Defense attorneys denied any sexual involvement before prosecutors revealed they had compelling DNA evidence.  Once that was confirmed, Brafman switched gears, hoping to sell the idea of a “consensual” sexual encounter.  Even if Brafman produces evidence of past prostitution, it doesn’t necessarily undermine the prosecution’s case.  Even laws that protect against rape and sexual assault apply to drug addicts and prostitutes.  Given the available evidence, Strauss-Kahn’s team has a steep hill to climb.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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