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| The Strauss-Kahn affair – backstory | The Strauss-Kahn affair – backstory |
| (30 days later) | |
| Nafissatou Diallo, a New York hotel maid, alleged that Strauss-Kahn ran at her naked, molested her and forced her to perform oral sex on him in his suite at the Sofitel Hotel on 14 May 2011. | Nafissatou Diallo, a New York hotel maid, alleged that Strauss-Kahn ran at her naked, molested her and forced her to perform oral sex on him in his suite at the Sofitel Hotel on 14 May 2011. |
| Strauss-Kahn's lawyers argued the sexual encounter – which lasted approximately seven minutes between the time Diallo entered the room and he phoned his daughter to say he was on his way for lunch – was consensual. | Strauss-Kahn's lawyers argued the sexual encounter – which lasted approximately seven minutes between the time Diallo entered the room and he phoned his daughter to say he was on his way for lunch – was consensual. |
| At Manhattan criminal court, Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault. Hundreds of hotel workers gathered outside the courthouse shouting "shame on you". | At Manhattan criminal court, Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault. Hundreds of hotel workers gathered outside the courthouse shouting "shame on you". |
| Charges of attempted rape, sex abuse, forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment were eventually dropped, with prosecutors citing "substantial credibility issues" with the alleged victim. | Charges of attempted rape, sex abuse, forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment were eventually dropped, with prosecutors citing "substantial credibility issues" with the alleged victim. |
| Diallo's lawyer Kenneth Thompson said district attorney Cyrus Vance had "denied the right of a woman to get justice in a rape case." Her lawyers lodged a civil case alleging that Strauss-Kahn "intentionally, brutally and violently sexually assaulted Ms Diallo and in the process humiliated, degraded, violated and robbed Ms Diallo of her dignity as a woman". | Diallo's lawyer Kenneth Thompson said district attorney Cyrus Vance had "denied the right of a woman to get justice in a rape case." Her lawyers lodged a civil case alleging that Strauss-Kahn "intentionally, brutally and violently sexually assaulted Ms Diallo and in the process humiliated, degraded, violated and robbed Ms Diallo of her dignity as a woman". |
| A judge will rule next week whether Strauss-Kahn can claim diplomatic immunity. | A judge will rule next week whether Strauss-Kahn can claim diplomatic immunity. |
| When Strauss-Kahn returned to France in September, he told French TV there was "nothing violent, no aggression, no constraint" in his encounter with Diallo, calling it a moral fault. | When Strauss-Kahn returned to France in September, he told French TV there was "nothing violent, no aggression, no constraint" in his encounter with Diallo, calling it a moral fault. |
| He was questioned by police over an accusation by author and journalist Tristane Banon, 32, that he tried to rape her when she interviewed him in 2003 in Paris for a book. Prosecutors found prima-facie evidence of a sexual assault against Banon, a lesser charge, but said the alleged attack had passed the time limit and dismissed the case. | He was questioned by police over an accusation by author and journalist Tristane Banon, 32, that he tried to rape her when she interviewed him in 2003 in Paris for a book. Prosecutors found prima-facie evidence of a sexual assault against Banon, a lesser charge, but said the alleged attack had passed the time limit and dismissed the case. |
| Banon told journalists she felt "relief". She said: "I just wanted to be recognised as a victim. I wanted someone to say officially that I was not a liar. And here it was." | Banon told journalists she felt "relief". She said: "I just wanted to be recognised as a victim. I wanted someone to say officially that I was not a liar. And here it was." |
| Strauss-Kahn admitted he made a pass at Banon but denied any violence. | Strauss-Kahn admitted he made a pass at Banon but denied any violence. |
| In February, he was held in French police custody and questioned for two days over an alleged prostitution ring centred on the Carlton Hotel in Lille. The following month he was placed under formal investigation and bailed over alleged complicity in a pimping operation. | In February, he was held in French police custody and questioned for two days over an alleged prostitution ring centred on the Carlton Hotel in Lille. The following month he was placed under formal investigation and bailed over alleged complicity in a pimping operation. |
| Orgies, at which Strauss-Kahn has admitted having sex with a number of women, were allegedly organised by high-ranking police officers and business contacts from Lille. Judges are investigating the circumstances around women being flown to Washington, Paris and other cities for encounters when Strauss-Kahn was head of the IMF. Paying for sex is not illegal in France but procuring is. Strauss-Kahn insisted he never paid any of the women and did not know they were sex-workers. | Orgies, at which Strauss-Kahn has admitted having sex with a number of women, were allegedly organised by high-ranking police officers and business contacts from Lille. Judges are investigating the circumstances around women being flown to Washington, Paris and other cities for encounters when Strauss-Kahn was head of the IMF. Paying for sex is not illegal in France but procuring is. Strauss-Kahn insisted he never paid any of the women and did not know they were sex-workers. |
| Outside an early hearing his lawyer Henri Leclerc told French radio: "He could easily not have known because, as you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you're not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman." | Outside an early hearing his lawyer Henri Leclerc told French radio: "He could easily not have known because, as you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you're not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman." |
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