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May 17, 2011

IMF Chief Held On Sex Crime Charges Denied Bail 
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International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was denied bail
on Monday on charges he attempted to rape a hotel maid in New York City.
Until this week, Strauss-Kahn was seen as a front-runner for the French
presidency. Strauss-Kahn faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He
is now being held at the New York City prison on Rikers Island.
Strauss-Kahn's attorney spoke to reporters outside the courthouse.

Benjamin Brafman, Attorney: “We believe in and will prove in our
judgment that Mr. Strauss-Khan is innocent of these charges. We think
this case is very defensible. We do not believe he has any intention of
ever fleeing the jurisdiction. His principle intention is to try and
clear his name and reestablish his good name, so we are disappointed but
this case has just begun.”

Some supporters of Strauss-Kahn in France have questioned whether he is
being set up by his political opponents. On Monday, a French writer came
forward to say that Dominique Strauss-Kahn attempted to rape her nearly
a decade ago.



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