<p>The problem in this case is that, because DSK was on his way out of the country with whatever evidence he may have been carrying, the authorities had to make a quick decision based on their perceived veracity of the victim and whatever examination they could do in the time allotted.</p>
<p>I read in the NY Times this morning that the maid called her jailed boyfriend the day after the incident, and they spoke in an obscure dialect. Apparently, the conversation has only just now been translated. This is the conversation in which she spoke of getting money, being in control, etc. I wonder why they couldn’t get a translation earlier? I hope the conversation was translated correctly.</p>
<p>It was in Fulani. Getting a translator for that takes some time.</p>
<p>^^^I also imagine that, given the conversation’s importance, they might have wanted to use two or three independent translators.</p>
<p>I don’t thiink S-K raped the woman, but he was a danged fool to engaged in sex with her. Who knows what happened here? That is the problem with rape, it is impossible to prove most of the time. The “badger game” has been around for a long, long time. </p>
<p>I think there is enough doubt about a rape occurring from what I have read that S-K is going to go free over this, but in my opinion, he had a lot of tis coming. Stupid old goat. Now he and his wife understand why is womanizing ways are not the way to live. I’ve read that he just might contract aids from this encounter too. I stop short of saying “serves him right”.</p>
<p>Everybody and their grandmother knew about his womanizing ways though. People overlooked his personality flaws because in France its just part of the culture.</p>
<p>In the US, they take it much more seriously.</p>
<p>just because she had “unseemly behavior and associations” prior to this incident does not mean it was not rape.</p>
<p>michelle, that is true. But it certainly makes her less credible as a witness, and therefore very difficult to prove in a court of law.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to go with Parent57 on this one. It would seem that you need a sledge hammer to convince some people that it was in fact not rape.</p>
<p>In my view, it may have been rape and it may not have been rape. The issue, as many have stated, is that this woman would not be a credible witness because she has a history of many lies, including some surrounding this incident. And like the boy who cried “wolf,” when one lies a great deal, they may not be believed even when they are telling the truth (such as she could have lied about many things in the past and yet been truly raped but she will be hard to believe due to her pattern of lying). But to me, the one thing that impeaches her credibility most significantly, and why I might lean to thinking it wasn’t rape, is the latest alleged stories that this woman had engaged in sex for pay with other clientele in the hotel in the past. If that is true, then it is not far fetched to believe that is what happened here as well. That history is more directly related evidence than say, lying on an immigration form.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether she was raped. </p>
<p>Am I missing something…or did DS-K lie too? Wasn’t his immediate response to deny that any sexual encounter had occurred? To claim that he had been having lunch with his daughter at the time the alleged rape took place? </p>
<p>Isn’t it only AFTER he was forced to give a DNA sample and it conclusively established that there had been a sexual encounter between DS-K and his accuser that DS-K then switched his story and said that there was consensual sex? </p>
<p>That’s the way I remember it. </p>
<p>And just in case some of you have forgotten…prostitution is illegal in New York. </p>
<p>So, unless I’m missing something…DS-K seems to be admitting now that he did commit a crime and engage in sex with a prostitute. And also committed perjury in his initial encounters with the NYPD by denying that he had sex at all. </p>
<p>So, is it or is it not the case, that under the most pro DS-K version of events he is a “John” who engaged in illegal sex and committed perjury?</p>
<p>Yes, I agree, neither is as serious a crime as rape. But still…as I see it, it’s unlikely that he’s entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>Sooziet, I have to laugh that you’re only leaning to thinking it wasn’t rape. If you consider the totality of her history and the lies, particularly her conversations with boyfriend regarding all the money she could make and the possibility she engaged in sex for money, I would think you might be a bit more outraged at the ordeal she put him through and the gross injustice he will have had to endure at her hands (no pun intended). How about calling for a grand jury investigation and charging her with a crime for falsely concocting this story. Would any of the posters here support a criminal investigation of her, and if she is convicted of a crime - a stiff jail sentence.</p>
<p>JONRI:
You’re right that he committed perjury (she did too). They will have to prove, however, that the sex was for pay, as opposed to consensual sex with no pay involved.</p>
<p>parent57, I don’t have all the evidence and therefore there was a chance it was rape and there was a chance it wasn’t. What we found out recently is that the woman had a pattern of lying and thus her credibility would not hold up well in court. Even people who lie, may be raped. But as I said, the more compelling evidence, on top of the other lies, is that she allegedly has engaged in sex for pay at this hotel in the past, meaning she would do such a thing again. But prior to that, there were surely doubts due to her pattern of lying. But any liar, sometimes tells the truth and thus you cannot prove she made up the rape. However, with more information now, including previous sex for pay, her allegation of rape seems much more doubtful. Some of the other lies, such as on taxes, do not prove someone is not raped. But her cleaning more rooms right after the rape and changing that story and also engaging in sex for pay, both are directly related and thus more compelling arguments than merely that she is not credible due to lies in her past.</p>
<p>PS, I used the word “leaning,” when I said I was leaning now toward it not being rape, because I don’t have proof and neither do you. Thus I have an opinion and supported my reasons for it.</p>
<p>How about prosecuting her if she fabricated this story to make a lot of money.</p>
<p>By the way, if this woman concocted the story of it being rape rather than sex for pay or consensual sex, I do indeed find that horrible. However, I also find the actions of Strauss-Kahn pretty horrible to have had sex with the maid (for pay or not) which seems proven at this point and is not denied, when he is married. Also, prostitution is illegal, if that is what happened here. This guy is not too bright to have taken this risk.</p>
<p>PS, I cross posted but I would not have a problem with prosecuting her for false accusations if proven, as well as prostitution and even some other illegal things she has done in the past. Likewise, if Strauss-Kahn lied (he originally said no sex occurred, before the DNA evidence came to light) and also for engaging in prostitution, if that is proven.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>“I did not have sexual relations with …”</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Perjury is lying in court or to a grand jury.</p>
<p>Lying to the police may or may not be a crime (I think that this would be covered by state laws). I don’t know if lying to prosecutors is a crime but normally you have lawyers that act as a buffer.</p>
<p>I have a feeling his wife does not care about his escapades with other women.</p>
<p>Assuming she made the whole thing up and there is no reason not to believe she didn’t, you cannot seriously equate what he did with her actions. He may have lied to the police (don’t think this is a crime), but she had someone falsely arrested for very serious charges. To equate the two is in a way letting her off lightly. The only protection a guy has from a woman willing to engage in these type of despicable actions is to throw the book at her. She needs to go to prison for a long time to discourage others from ever thinking this is okay. I hope they don’t coddle her because she is a female.</p>