I Have Diplomatic Immunity

(Posted on 17/06/11)

Those were the first words Dominique Straus-Kahn spoke after being pulled from a flight bound for Paris by both the Port Authorities of New York and New Jersey on May 14. The then-director of the International Monetary Fund asked for someone to contact the French consulate so that he could speak with a representative. Next, he asked the handcuffs be placed in front of him versus behind his back, which is customary in American arresting procedures.

Strauss-Kahn faces rape and other charges when a housekeeper in the hotel he was staying in claimed he attacked and raped her. The hotel suite is located in midtown Manhattan and the Manhattan district attorney's office is handling the charges. His legal representation was provided the voluntary disclosure form by the American district attorney's office within the required 15 day period following a defendant's arraignment.

Other questions the accused asked his arresting officers included, "What is this about?", to which law enforcement said, "an incident in the city at a hotel". Strauss-Kahn did not reply. Five hours later, he asked for a lawyer. He asked for water and to use the restroom and he complained the handcuffs were too tight. Eventually, he stated he would not be asserting diplomatic immunity. His solicitor of record is Bill Taylor. Before calling Taylor, he asked if he needed a lawyer, to which one detective replied, "It is your right to have one in this country if you want...I don't know if you have some kind of diplomatic status", to which Strauss-Kahn replied, "No, no, no. I'm not trying to use that, I just want to know if I need a lawyer". The detective answered again, "That is up to you".

Strauss-Kahn later learned his immunity would only apply if it involved official fund business, which it did not.

Strauss-Kahn was believed to be a front runner in the upcoming French presidential race. His lawyers continue to insist their client is innocent, despite imminent medical examination reports, DNA reports, a sexual assault forensic examination, photographs and electronic recordings. The report the housekeeper filed states that her assailant emerged "naked from a room" and ran down the hallway, closing a door to prevent her escape. It was then he attacked her.

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