Strauss-Kahn admits 'moral failings'
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, says his sexual encounter with a New York hotel maid “did not involve violence, constraint or aggression” but still was a “moral failing” on his part.
In his first interview since his May 14 arrest over accusations of sexual assault by the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, Mr Strauss-Kahn said today in an interview with France’s TF1 television channel “what happened was more than an inappropriate relation. It was an error”.
He added “I regret it infinitely.”
Still, he maintained that Ms Diallo “lied.”
New York prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against him last month, though Mr Strauss-Kahn is still facing a lawsuit brought by Diallo.
Mr Strauss-Kahn also dismissed a French writer’s claims that he tried to rape her during a 2003 interview as “imaginary” and insisted there was “no act of aggression, no violence”.
Writer Tristane Banon has charged Strauss-Kahn tussled on the floor during an interview in an empty apartment, with the politician trying to open her jeans and bra and putting his fingers in her mouth and underwear.
Because a police investigation into the claims is ongoing, Strauss-Kahn said he would not say anything more about the matter.
