Ex-IMF leader pleads not guilty to sex assault
NEW YORK (AP) — Former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn has pleaded not guilty to trying to rape a maid at a New York City hotel.
Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty Monday in a strong voice, standing between his defense team Ben Brafman and William W. Taylor, as his wife, journalist Anne Sinclair, watched. He already had said he’s innocent.
The 32-year-old maid told police Strauss-Kahn chased her down in his hotel suite, tried to pull down her pantyhose and forced her to perform oral sex.
Defense lawyers have said they believed forensic evidence wouldn’t support a forcible encounter. They’ve also said they have information that would “gravely undermine” her credibility but haven’t given details.
The 62-year-old Strauss-Kahn is on house arrest under armed guard. He resigned his IMF post after his May 14 arrest.