Dominique Strauss-Kahn says women had a habit of 'offering themselves to me'
Dominique Strauss-Kahn says he had no idea women in orgies were prostitutes as he preferred to "party" with libertines – a claim two ex-escorts forcefully deny
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Dominique Strauss-Kahn, right, leaves a court in Lille Photo: AP
6:39PM GMT 10 Feb 2015
Dominique
Strauss-Kahn robustly denied charges of "aggravated
pimping" on Tuesday, saying he had no idea he was having sex with
prostitutes as women had a habit of "offering themselves to me".
The former International Monetary Fund chief's claims were forcefully denied
by two ex-prostitutes who said it was clear they were paid to be treated as "things"
rather than "people".
A court sketch shows former IMF chief, French Dominique Strauss-Kahn, testifying at Lille's courthouse (AFP?Getty)
Quizzed on his role for the first time in the three-week trial in Lille,
northern France,
the 64-year old claimed he had been wrongly depicted as being engaged in "frenetic
sexual activity", whereas he only partook in four orgies a year.
Referring to group sessions in Lille, Paris and Washington, Bernard Lemaire,
the judge, told Mr Strauss-Kahn: "Everything appears to have taken
place at your request and for you."
Looking weary but self-possessed, DSK, as he is known, retorted that he had "committed
no crime".
"I don't see myself as organising these soirées in any way. I didn't have time. At no moment did I think these evenings were organised for me."
"I had other things to do. I had political ambitions. And a complicated couple," referring to his ex-wife Anne Sinclair.
The one-time presidential hopeful maintained that he "would never have come" to what he saw as libertine sessions had he known prostitutes were involved.
"I have nothing against prostitutes, but that's not what I like. I like to party," said Mr Strauss-Kahn, who faces a 10-year prison term and €1.5 million fine. Relations with them would have been "far too risky".
Mr Strauss-Kahn complained that investigating magistrates suggested he did little else than attend soirées dedicated to sex.
"When you read the indictment, you get the impression there was a frenetic (sexual) activity. We are talking about four meetings per year over a three-year period."
Policemen detain a topless Femen activist who jumped in front of DSK's car ( AFP/Getty)
"These were recreational activities – a pressure valve in my hectic life," he insisted.
The disgraced Socialist contended that his businessman friend, Fabrice Paszkowski, one of 13 other defendants, had sought to hide the fact girls were paid "to please him".
Mr Paszkowski suggested women flocked to Mr Strauss-Kahn due to his charisma as a public figure: "People say the girls were the gift, but the real gift was DSK."
Mr Strauss-Kahn said he had suspected nothing as "women had a habit of offering themselves to me. It was not uncommon".
He said his "friends" hired prostitutes because they were "ashamed they couldn't seduce as many women as me".
He also made an apparent Freudian slip by saying: "People attribute many female conquests to me but no doubt a lot less than in reality."
Dominique Strauss Kahn (C) arrives at the Court House by car, in Lille
That account was firmly denied by two ex-prostitutes. The first, Mounia, said she had only consented to "brutal" sex with the ex-IMF chief because she needed the money.
In tears, she recounted her first meeting with Mr Strauss-Kahn at the luxury Murano hotel in Paris in 2010.
Brought along by Mr Paszkowski, businessman David Roquet, and policeman Jean-Christophe Lagarde – all friends of Mr Strauss-Kahn and defendants – she said the sole aim was to satisfy his urges.
After "brief" preliminaries, Mr Strauss-Kahn appeared in a dressing gown and swiftly imposed what she called "unnatural sexual practices".
"I didn't want to do it but didn't say so orally, rather with gestures. I cried a lot at that moment and he noticed it. I was struck by the smile on his face from beginning to end," she said.
"It was a brutal show of power – but I consented as I needed the money."
The judge repeatedly asked whether Mr Strauss-Kahn was aware the women were remunerated.
"He can't have been unaware that I was paid, which is why he did what he liked with me. He carried on even though I had made him understand I didn't want to," said Mounia.
In a second testimony, Jade, another ex-prostitute, said: "I was just a thing who had to accomplish something. I was not there as a person."
However, both said they never discussed payment. "We didn't talk about money at all", said Mounia.
Mr Strauss-Kahn said: "I never knew. For me, they came with friends to participate in a festive evening. I never had the impression they were there for me."
Earlier, he told the court his current career as an "economic consultant" earned him €2.4 million in dividends last year, and he receives a further €10,000 per month in pensions.
Asked why he had taken such risks as an international public figure, Mr Strauss-Kahn said: "I considered that while my private life didn't harm my public life, there was no issue. I was wrong. Was there a risk? Yes, but it was one I was prepared to take."
Several topless protesters from the Femen group with slogans painted in black on their chests and torsos had earlier thrown themselves on Mr Strauss-Kahn's car as it arrived at court before being pulled away by police.
The trial continues.
end quote from:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/dominique-strauss-kahn/11403821/Dominique-Strauss-Kahn-says-women-had-a-habit-of-offering-themselves-to-me.html
Europe is different than the U.S. in a lot of ways isn't it?
"I don't see myself as organising these soirées in any way. I didn't have time. At no moment did I think these evenings were organised for me."
"I had other things to do. I had political ambitions. And a complicated couple," referring to his ex-wife Anne Sinclair.
The one-time presidential hopeful maintained that he "would never have come" to what he saw as libertine sessions had he known prostitutes were involved.
"I have nothing against prostitutes, but that's not what I like. I like to party," said Mr Strauss-Kahn, who faces a 10-year prison term and €1.5 million fine. Relations with them would have been "far too risky".
Mr Strauss-Kahn complained that investigating magistrates suggested he did little else than attend soirées dedicated to sex.
"When you read the indictment, you get the impression there was a frenetic (sexual) activity. We are talking about four meetings per year over a three-year period."
Policemen detain a topless Femen activist who jumped in front of DSK's car ( AFP/Getty)
"These were recreational activities – a pressure valve in my hectic life," he insisted.
The disgraced Socialist contended that his businessman friend, Fabrice Paszkowski, one of 13 other defendants, had sought to hide the fact girls were paid "to please him".
Mr Paszkowski suggested women flocked to Mr Strauss-Kahn due to his charisma as a public figure: "People say the girls were the gift, but the real gift was DSK."
Mr Strauss-Kahn said he had suspected nothing as "women had a habit of offering themselves to me. It was not uncommon".
He said his "friends" hired prostitutes because they were "ashamed they couldn't seduce as many women as me".
He also made an apparent Freudian slip by saying: "People attribute many female conquests to me but no doubt a lot less than in reality."
Dominique Strauss Kahn (C) arrives at the Court House by car, in Lille
That account was firmly denied by two ex-prostitutes. The first, Mounia, said she had only consented to "brutal" sex with the ex-IMF chief because she needed the money.
In tears, she recounted her first meeting with Mr Strauss-Kahn at the luxury Murano hotel in Paris in 2010.
Brought along by Mr Paszkowski, businessman David Roquet, and policeman Jean-Christophe Lagarde – all friends of Mr Strauss-Kahn and defendants – she said the sole aim was to satisfy his urges.
After "brief" preliminaries, Mr Strauss-Kahn appeared in a dressing gown and swiftly imposed what she called "unnatural sexual practices".
"I didn't want to do it but didn't say so orally, rather with gestures. I cried a lot at that moment and he noticed it. I was struck by the smile on his face from beginning to end," she said.
"It was a brutal show of power – but I consented as I needed the money."
The judge repeatedly asked whether Mr Strauss-Kahn was aware the women were remunerated.
"He can't have been unaware that I was paid, which is why he did what he liked with me. He carried on even though I had made him understand I didn't want to," said Mounia.
In a second testimony, Jade, another ex-prostitute, said: "I was just a thing who had to accomplish something. I was not there as a person."
However, both said they never discussed payment. "We didn't talk about money at all", said Mounia.
Mr Strauss-Kahn said: "I never knew. For me, they came with friends to participate in a festive evening. I never had the impression they were there for me."
Earlier, he told the court his current career as an "economic consultant" earned him €2.4 million in dividends last year, and he receives a further €10,000 per month in pensions.
Asked why he had taken such risks as an international public figure, Mr Strauss-Kahn said: "I considered that while my private life didn't harm my public life, there was no issue. I was wrong. Was there a risk? Yes, but it was one I was prepared to take."
Several topless protesters from the Femen group with slogans painted in black on their chests and torsos had earlier thrown themselves on Mr Strauss-Kahn's car as it arrived at court before being pulled away by police.
The trial continues.
end quote from:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/dominique-strauss-kahn/11403821/Dominique-Strauss-Kahn-says-women-had-a-habit-of-offering-themselves-to-me.html
Europe is different than the U.S. in a lot of ways isn't it?
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