French writer to press on with Dominique Strauss-Kahn allegations

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

The French writer and journalist who claims Dominique Strauss-Kahn attempted to rape her eight years ago is more determined than ever to bring him to justice, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

Tristane Banon claims the former IMF chief sexually assaulted her when she went to interview him for a book she was writing in 2003. Banon, 32, who was friends with Strauss-Kahn's daughter Camille and is a goddaughter of his second wife, described his behaviour as "like a rutting chimpanzee".

Her lawyer David Koubbi, who travelled to New York to see prosecutor Cyrus Vance and meet Nafissatou Diallo, said he was dismayed by the New York prosecutor's decision to drop the sexual assault charges against the politician.

"I regret this outcome. I regret it for Nafissatou Diallo because I believed what she said," he said.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/23/dominique-strauss-kahn-tristane-banon

[cosmicone]

1. Yeah yeah ... we know she wants to sell more books ...

or she would have come forward sooner. She is taking advantage of the world-wide headlines for profit.

[COLGATE4]

3. Absolutely. Aside from the fact that the statute of limitations for

rape in France has already run on her charges. Just a lot of noise = any publicity is good publicity.

[Theobald]

5. Thank god ignorance is not contagious

Statute of limitation in France on attempted rape is 10 years; which makes all of your blathering irrelevant.

http://www.businessinsider.com/french-writer-tristane-banon-to-file-sexual-assault-charges-against-dominique-strauss-kahn-2011-7

[Theobald]

4. How much sooner do you think is reasonable?

I only ask because, according to you, if she came out sooner with the allegations, she wouldn't be doing it for profit.

She talked about the allegations on air in 2007, four years ago, is that soon enough for you?

The allegations were mentioned in a book in 2006, five years ago, is that soon enough for you?

Her mother convinced her not to file charges against him in 2002, 9 years ago, is that soon enough for you?

Even if she is taking advantage of the attempted rape against her for profit, like you suggested, how is that a bad thing?

Next y'll be blaming her for wearing provocative clothing or for having breasts in the first place.

[cosmicone]

6. Doesn't the timing appear even a little

opportunistic for you?

[Theobald]

8. What part of the timing are you speaking of?

If you are talking about filing charges against him for attempted rape, than I would say no, she is not being opportunistic.

What do you call it when you realize that by not filing charges when the attempted rape happened, you ended up helping to allow a sexual predator to roam the streets without much of a warning to your fellow females? That is what I would consider her timing to be....

[Bragi]

9. Not at all

From my reading, it appears she wanted to come out when it happened, and was persuaded otherwise by her family. When DSK was arrested in NYC, she understandably felt guilty for not having come out and she felt her failure to report may have been partly responsible for him not being stopped sooner.

So her behaviour seems perfectly consistent with someone who wished they'd have reported sooner but didn't. Would she have come out recently if the victim had not turned out to be a liar? Who knows.

Does she see a basket of money at the end of all this? I doubt it very much. It seems more likely that she is going to be trashed big time for making her accusations, and I suspect she knows that, but she's doing it anyway.

Why? Because she knows DSK is a dangerous man and she feels an obligation to at least try to put him away.

That's how I see it. I'd like to know if the facts do not support my view.

[cosmicone]

10. The facts don't support your views.

She cannot possibly win in France because there is no evidence except "he said - she said" ...

She only wins by getting attention to her writings and increased sales therefrom.

[Bragi]

11. She wins by exposing a sexual predator

If it is factually true, as you assert, that she "cannot possibly win in France" then contrary to what you claim, it does not inexorably flow from this that: "She only wins by getting attention to her writings and increased sales therefrom."

What the suit also does is to bring attention to her well-grounded belief that DSK is a dangerous sexual predator. She seems to be very serious about this, and has personal experience in the area. Do you disagree that her case will keep his wrong-doings in the public eye?

More centrally, pushing her claim as best she can under applicable laws may also give her some needed relief knowing that she has helped in a material way to neutralize through exposure a sexual predator who still walks amongst us. Doing this may protect other women, and the fact that doing this makes it highly unlikely DSK will be able to even dream about going on to become President of France, that's also got to matter.

I think that whatever the judicial outcome of the case may be legally, even if she loses it as you predict, her determination to see it through is completely consistent with the non-commercial motivations I described above and earlier (up-thread.)

[cosmicone]

12. You don't personally know that he is a sexual predator.

You are ascribing guilt by rumors and innuendos ... or you may be one of those people who think women always tell the truth and men always lie.

[Bragi]

14. That's all you have?

That's your best argument?

Well, I don't "personally know" that Omar Gaddhafi is a bad man, but reports suggest that to be the case. Ditto with DSK's sexual predation problems, which seem to be quite well documented at this point.

As for being "one of those people who think women always tell the truth and men always lie" I honestly don't think that kind of stupid and sexist accusation ought to be dignified with a response.

[LanternWaste]

13. I imagine his defense attorney made some good money too.

I imagine his defense attorney made some good money too. :shrug:

[defendandprotect]

2. Glad to see her doing this -- this is a vile man ---

[24601]

7. Yet the French Socialists want him as Pres. Go figure. n/t

[bemildred]

15. It's classic he said, she said, perfect to put before a jury to decide. nt