The IMF Boss Also Tried to Rape Her

KOMPAS.com - Dominique Strauss-Kahn underwent forensic tests today following his arrest on sex attack charges in New York - as a second woman in Paris reported him for attempted rape.

The 62-year-old head of the International Monetary Fund, who was tipped to become the President of France next year, ‘vigorously’ denies the claims made by an unnamed American chamber maid.

But now Tristane Banon, the 31-year-old god-daughter of Strauss-Kahn’s second wife Brigitte Guillemette, said he attacked her almost a decade ago. Ms Banon will now tell French detectives about the alleged attempted rape, which took place in an anonymous studio flat in Paris in 2002.

Strauss-Kahn lured the then 21-year-old trainee journalist to the property under the promise of an interview, and then started to rip her clothes off, it is claimed.

‘I kicked him, I called him a rapist, he didn’t seem to care,’ said Ms Banon in earlier interviews, in which she also described Strauss-Kahn as acting like a ‘rutting chimpanzee’.

Ms Banon’s mother, Anne Mansouret, said the only reason she did not press charges at the time was because 'she was just starting out in journalism' and was afraid of being 'defined by the story' of being attacked by a senior politician.

Mrs Mansouret has now confirmed that her daughter is making a report to Paris police, and may hold a press conference about an ordeal which left her 'traumatised'.

Lawyer David Koubbi said that his client, Ms Banon, is 'considering filing a complaint'. Strauss-Kahn today appeared in court charged with performing a criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment.

He was arrested on an Air France jet as it sat on the runway at JFK just hours after the alleged attack took place at the luxury Sofitel New York. One of the establishment's maids, a 32-year-old African American, claims she was dragged into Strauss-Kahn's £1,855-a-night suite on Saturday.

She told police she was forced to give him oral sex before he started to rip her clothes off and tried to rape her. The alleged victim then claimed she managed to free herself and fled.

Strauss-Kahn, who is known in his home country as the ‘Great Seducer’, is said to have left the hotel in a hurry, forgetting a mobile phone and other items. He was dramatically captured by plain-clothes detectives on-board the First Class cabin of Air France flight 23, which was 10 minutes from take-off.

Strauss-Kahn is said to have asked: 'What is this about?'. He was then bundled away in front of startled fellow passengers.

The maid, who is said to be slightly injured, identified Strauss-Kahn at an identity parade at the special victims unit in Harlem, and was later driven from the station in a police van with a blanket over her head.

If found guilty of the attack, Strauss-Kahn faces up to 15 years in prison. Even if he is acquitted, his political and financial career are in tatters. As well as heading up the IMF, he was favourite to take the French presidency from the unpopular Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Frenchman's allies have claimed he may be the victim of a plot to discredit him. It emerged today that he had once said he feared political opponents would pay a woman more than $1million to say he had raped her.

He has, however, had a long held reputation as a ladies' man with voracious appetites. Three times married, he was forced to apologise in 2008 following an affair with a junior colleague at the IMF.

Aurelie Filipetti, a respected French Socialist MP, said in 2008 that she was groped by Strauss-Kahn and would 'forever make sure' she was never 'alone in a room with him'.

In the same year Strauss-Kahn admitted to a sexual relationship with one of his subordinates, Piroska Nagy. He was cleared of harassment, favouritism and abuse of power following an inquiry - but kept his job, while Ms Nagy move on.

Strauss-Kahn’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman said: 'He intends to vigorously defend these charges and denies any wrongdoing.' William Taylor, another member of his legal team, said: 'Our client willingly consented to scientific and forensic examinations at the request of the government. He’s tired, but he’s fine.'

Strauss-Kahn’s third wife, Anne Sinclair, 63, is also sticking by him, saying she 'does not believe for a second' the allegations, adding: 'I have no doubt that his innocence will be established.'

Some allies in the French Socialist Party even say that Strauss-Kahn is the victim of a ‘smear campaign’ orchestrated by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Socialist politician Jean-Marie Le Guen said: ‘There is now a totally structured and orchestrated campaign, which has already been announced by Mr. Sarkozy and his closest allies, to attack the character of Strauss-Kahn.’

Strauss-Kahn’s official biographer, Michel Taubmann, said he was a well-known seducer, but added: ‘I can’t believe he would force himself on an unwilling woman. That doesn’t make sense.

‘If anything he was the one harassed, not the reverse — I’ve seen time and again women MPs, party workers, brazenly passing on notes, hoping he would notice them.’

Strauss-Kahn was due to go head-to-head against Mr Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential elections, with Elysee Palace sources indicating that Mr Sarkozy was ‘quietly delighted’ that his chief rival had ‘blown up before the campaign has even got underway’.