DSK’s half-victory
Photo by International Monetary Fund, via Flickr
Last week, a Paris prosecutor decided not to charge Dominique Strauss-Kahn with attempted rape in a case brought by French author Tristane Banon. But sadly, this is not exactly a victory for DSK, as the prosecutor’s office also stated that evidence showed, and Strauss-Kahn admitted to, sexual assault, a lesser charge which they are barred from pursuing by the statute of limitations.
Of course, it’s a good thing that Strauss-Kahn won’t have to face a criminal trial. But the decision is not a good thing for his image or his hopes of a future in politics. It would almost have been better for him if he had gone to trial, because he most likely would have been acquitted, and then it would look like he suffered unjustly for a crime he did not commit. But instead the prosecutor made a decision that gives the general public the exact opposite impression. In the words of the Independent, the prosecutor’s office branded DSK as ”a self-confessed sexual aggressor who cannot be tried because of a technicality.”
This is not only tragic for DSK as an individual; it is simply wrong. Contrary to what the prosecutor claims, DSK did not admit to sexual assault. According to his lawyers, this is what he admitted to:
“Tristan Banon arrived, we sat down, she in the armchair, I on the sofa…She stopped her questions and we talked in a more light-hearted manner. We bantered. We adopted a more conversational, personal tone…I asked her what her tastes were in art, literature, travel. We spoke in a lighter tone. Then we got up to leave. Then I tried to kiss her…I tried to take her in my arms. I tried to kiss her on the mouth. She pushed back firmly. She cried out, more or less, ‘Are you mad?’ I immediately relaxed my grip. She grabbed her things and left the flat, furious.”
How can anyone think this equals sexual assault? It may be inappropriate for a married man to act this way toward a much younger woman, but it shouldn’t be a crime. First of all, the actions that DSK admits to were not sexual. Although he may have hoped that the situation would lead to sex eventually, according to his account he did not try to touch her private parts or take her clothes off or anything like that; he just tried to hug and kiss her. Nor is what he admitted to an assault, because he immediately stopped when she pushed him away and yelled at him. If this is considered sexual assault, but forcing people to have their naked bodies revealed or their private parts touched in order to board an airplane is not, then we have a serious problem.
When DSK’s lawyers pointed this out, a judicial official clarified the claims about DSK’s “confession,” saying, ”Mr Strauss-Kahn admitted trying to kiss Miss Banon. He does not admit sexual assault, but that’s his opinion. The magistrate for his part said it could be regarded as a sexual assault.” I’m glad they finally realized this very important distinction, but Strauss-Kahn’s opinion is the more reasonable one, and his lawyer, Frederique Beaulieu, seems to be right when she said the magistrate’s opinion “appears to be dictated by the circumstances, pressures, and hype.”
Strauss-Kahn has been steadfast in his denial of sexual assault, consistently maintaining that Banon’s accusations are imaginary and that he committed no act of aggression. One newspaper headline read, “DSK lied,” a lawyer for his New York accuser, hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, said he was ”caught in the act of lying,” and Banon’s lawyer said, ”it has been established beyond doubt that her case is not without substance.” But that is not true; all that has been established is that the magistrate and DSK have different definitions of sexual assault.
Strauss-Kahn and Aubry in happier times, by the Socialist Party via Flickr
Another injustice that has happened to DSK is betrayal by his political allies. Both his former friend, Martine Aubry, and the Socialist candidate for president, Francois Hollande, were supportive of Strauss-Kahn during and immediately after his trials and tribulations in New York, but then threw him under the bus when polls indicated he was unpopular. “There are rules and principles. Dominique Strauss-Kahn will not be in a government I pick,” said Hollande. Earlier, Aubry said, “I feel the same way as a lot of women about Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s attitude to women.” Lack of loyalty is one of my least favorite character traits, and I think it is highly dishonorable of Aubry and Hollande to turn on their friend in order to help their own political careers.
And on the same day that DSK was falsely declared a self-confessed sexual aggressor, Banon released a book in which, in order to avoid defamation charges, she calls DSK a “pig” and a “baboon-man” instead of using his name. This is in addition to her much-quoted description of him as a “rutting chimpanzee.” Even if DSK was guilty of sex crimes, which I don’t believe he is, this is not a classy way to talk about anyone.
I am glad to see that Strauss-Kahn is fighting back against the claim that he admitted to sexual assault (and also against new allegations – the last thing he needs at the moment – linking him to a prostitution ring). Although there are countless rumors surrounding DSK, and he is undoubtedly a lothario and a womanizer, it is sad that this is how society treats a man when there is no proof he did anything wrong.