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IMF Head's Perp Walk Horrifies The French, Allegations Horrify Everyone
By
Jen Chung
Published May 17, 2011
Modified May 17, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 17, 2011
Modified May 17, 2011
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Do you know what's totally gauche in France? Showing suspects in handcuffs! While the French media has descended upon New York City's police stations and courthouses for glimpses of IMF head and leading politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is accused of trying to rape a hotel maid and eventually forcing her to perform oral sex on him, it turns out that showing suspects in handcuffs is against the law in France. While Strauss-Kahn's perp walk was typical fare for us, according to the Wall Street Journal, "The footage has transfixed the nation, not least because French law prohibits cameras inside French courtrooms, as well as any footage of people in handcuffs unless they have been convicted by a court."
A former French justice minister, Elisabeth Guigou, said of the images of Strauss-Kahn in cuffs and in the courtroom, on the radio, "I found that image to be incredibly brutal, violent and cruel. I am happy that we do not have the same judicial system... I don’t see what the publication of images of this type adds." The NY Times' Lede blog adds:
Asked about Ms. Guigou’s remarks, Eva Joly, a well-known French magistrate who once brought charges against Mr. Strauss-Kahn for corruption (of which he was later acquitted), agreed that “these are very violent images.” Ms. Joly, who is now a leader of the French Green Party expected to run in next year’s presidential election, added that this sort of media spectacle might be “more violent for a celebrity than for an unknown person,” but noted that the American justice system “doesn’t distinguish between the director of the I.M.F. and any other suspect. It’s the idea of equal rights."
Ms. Joly also suggested that the ‘perp walk’ images of Mr. Strauss-Kahn in handcuffs were a product of a justice system quote unlike the French one, because American prosecutors always needs to think about convincing a jury of a suspect’s guilt. At present, there are no jurors in many French courtrooms, although French President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed changes that would make juries more common and jurors do take part in trials for the most serious offenses, including rape.
The 62-year-old is accused of attacking a maid at the Soitel in Times Square on Saturday: Prosecutors say that the 32-year-old African immigrant entered his $3,000/night suite thinking it was empty, but then Strauss-Kahn emerged naked, first trying to take off her underwear and then "his penis made contact with the victim's mouth twice through the use of force." Later in the day, police say he appeared to have left the hotel in a hurry, leaving personal items behind, and nearly left on an Air France flight. Port Authority police officers removed him after he called the hotel to inquire about missing items and revealed he was on an Air France flight at JFK Airport.
However, Strauss-Kahn's defense lawyers said in court yesterday that the encounter did not involve force and a defense source told the Post, "There may well have been consent." The Post adds, "Disturbing information also emerged about Strauss-Kahn's behavior after he left the hotel—including his coolly having lunch with his daughter, who lives in Manhattan, at a restaurant about a half-hour after the alleged attack." The Manhattan DA's office says that the maid "provided a very powerful and detailed account of the violent sexual assault."
The brother of the alleged victim told the Daily News, "She's very upset because she loves her job... What would you feel if it was your sister? We are in pain." He added, "This is America—he won't get away with it. Justice will be served. That's why we love America."
Strauss-Kahn is being held without bail. He's next due in court on Friday. The Daily News notes his riches-to-rags descent: "Strauss-Kahn spent Sunday at the NYPD's special victims unit office, where he had eggs, toast and home fries for breakfast and a ham and cheese sandwich for dinner. Known in France as a thrice-married womanizer nicknamed "The Great Seducer" and "Hot Rabbit," he appeared baggy-eyed and haggard at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment" yesterday. Currently, he's at Rikers.
Tagged
accusations
dominique strauss-kahn
france
gallery
handcuffs
imf
international monetary fund
perp walk
sofitel
Times Square
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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