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18 Sep 2011 20:50

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World: Dominique Strauss-Kahn admits “moral failing,” denies everything else

  • yeah … Dominique Strauss-Kahn admitted to a “moral failing” in his sexual encounter with a NYC hotel maid, in an interview with a French television station. It was his first public interview since the former IMF leader was arrested in May.
  • … but He claimed the sex was consensual, and that he did nothing that constituted an arrest. He also said an accusation that he attempted to rape French journalist Tristane Banon was “imaginary and slanderous.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jul 2011 09:59

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U.S.: Guineans in NYC worry how Strauss-Kahn twist affects them

  • It will be very hard to believe in the future what African people say. She has to repent if she’s lying.
  • Nigerian Imam Nurudeen Sulayman • Discussing the NYC African community’s feelings on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn accuser — especially among Guineans. To put it simply, they worry that it reflects badly on their community. The new developments around the accuser, who reportedly called a prison inmate and talked to him about extorting Strauss-Kahn in a rare dialect of Fulani, have put unwelcome attention on fellow Guineans in the city. “It’s about the two of them,” said Mamadou Diallo, president of the Futa Islamic Center, where the accuser reportedly attended services. “All we can do is stand still and watch.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Jul 2011 16:08

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U.S.: Remember: The Dominique Strauss-Kahn case still isn’t closed

  • Our concern is that the Manhattan district attorney is too afraid to try this case. We believe he’s afraid he’s going to lose this high-profile case.
  • Lawyer Kenneth Thompson, who represents Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s accuser • Describing the issues currently clouding the Dominique Strauss-Kahn rape trial. If you read the document, it notes a few things which could damage the victim’s credibility in a court of law — meaning that, even if the French politician actually did assault her (Thompson claims that the physical evidence still supports her case), there are inconsistencies which could damage her case in the eyes of a jury. These inconsistencies show up both in her backstory and her story of the moments before and after the alleged assault, and have been documented in this letter the New York Times posted earlier. All of this is to say that this may be an issue of perception — an assault may still have taken place. But purely circumstantial reasons could hurt the prosecutor’s ability to get a conviction. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Jul 2011 10:21

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World: Now isn’t the the time to discuss Strauss-Kahn’s rebound

  • It is clear that if he wants to, Dominique must come to France and play a major political role. Whatever his status, his presence with us would be decisive for our success in [next year’s] presidential election.
  • Former French Culture Minister Jack Lang • Expressing excitement over the possibility that Dominique Strauss-Kahn might walk. Now, we’ve read a couple of articles like this Financial Times one this morning, and the celebratory tone of the whole thing weirds us out a ton. Even if it was adultery, instead of rape, that’d be enough to sink the hopes of a campaign in the U.S. But even by that token, we don’t know the full story yet, from Kahn’s angle or the victim’s. Now is not the time to discuss his presidential aspirations. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Jun 2011 11:24

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U.S.: Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty; France captivated

His case bewilders the French, who love American crime shows but can’t believe how callous we are towards suspects, especially prominent ones like DSK. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 May 2011 20:13

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World: Strauss-Kahn case may change France’s lassiez-faire views on sex

  • 1980 the year rape was formally outlawed in France — which is fairly late by historic standards
  • 75k number of rapes per year, according to France’s own government studies
  • 10% share of victims that file complaints each year, according to French women’s groups source
  • » The catalyst for changing perceptions? French society has long considered sexual matters private, but the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case — taking place in a society with a more stringent view on women’s’ rights — could help change that. While French legislation slowly turns the screws in favor of protecting victims of harassment and sexual abuse, the trial of a very powerful figure could have a lasting cultural effect, according to Claude Katz, a French attorney who focuses on sexual harassment cases. “It will empower victims of sexual abuse in France because if a maid can speak against a powerful man, others will have a stronger voice,” he explains.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 11:19

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World: Poll: Many French people think Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up

  • 57% of French voters think Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up in the IMF leader’s sexual assault case
  • 70% of French voters in the Socialist Party (the politician’s own party) think the same thing source
  • » Another conspiracy theory flourishes: French society is one where conspiracy theories like this can flourish — in part due to mistrust of business and political elites. But the fall of a man expected to run for president has many in absolute disbelief. “It highlights France’s denial . . . People do not want to believe it and it is interesting from the collective psychology point of view,” said Jérome Sainte-Marie of the polling group CSA. If it makes you feel better, French people, the U.S. loves its conspiracy theories too.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

18 May 2011 10:43

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World: Slate’s French site names victim in Dominique Strauss-Kahn case

  • Did you guys know there was a French version of Slate? It’s true. And while it shares the same hue of purple as the mothership, it’s editorially independent and the Slate company owns a tiny 15 percent share of the product. Anyway, the site yesterday published an article noting the reported victim’s name in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal (which we will not link directly here; if you’re interested, you can dig yourself) — a usual no-no in the world of journalism. And one that a few other outlets have also broken. But why Slate.fr, which carries the rep of a highly-regarded site that would never do something like that? According to an interview by The Atlantic Wire, the site’s founder, Eric Leser, says they did it to fight buck against the conspiracy theories that have grown around the story in France. “The story that we have published is proving that all of [these] theories are false,” he said. “That’s our main reason.” Do you guys agree with this stance? Do you think Slate.fr is making a mistake by publishing this? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 May 2011 11:29

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World: Dominique Strauss-Kahn case creates trouble for French TV stations

  • The principle of freedom of expression and right to information shouldn’t ignore the fact that such images can harm a person’s dignity.
  • A statement from the French broadcasting authority • Reminding television networks in the country that they should be careful in showing images of IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn wearing handcuffs. While it’s illegal to shoot photos or video inside French courtrooms (and photographers can’t shoot people in handcuffs unless the person has been convicted), it’s not in American courtrooms, creating a complicated situation — and a rare sight on French television. It’s not clear that the French government could fine television stations that show the images, but officials are looking into it. But either way, it appears that the stations may be violating the spirit of the 2000 law (designed to encourage a presumption of innocence), if not the letter of it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 May 2011 22:36

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World: Three signs Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s case is a media circus

  • one The Business Insider wrote a piece noting that DNA evidence was found in the hotel room, while hinting at something else. Well, of course there was! He stayed in the hotel overnight!
  • two Today, when presented a lineup, the maid at the center of the sexual assault charged picked the French political figure. Paparazzi surrounded her as she left the police station.
  • three The IMF leader’s lawyer has a long list of high-profile clients, including P. Diddy, NFL star Plaxico Burress (who shot himself in the leg) and blingmaster “Jacob the Jeweler.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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