In order to understand the debate surrounding the prosecution  of Dominique Strauss Kahn, you need know something about the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As the Second World War came to an end 29 nations assembled to create the IMF. These nations set up an intergovernmental organization that would oversee the global financial markets via the macroeconomic policies of its member countries.  Today the IMF consists of about 187 member nations. In the years after its formation, the IMF’s mandate has expanded to include providing low costs loans on favorable terms to developing countries. Member nations contribute to an account which the IMF draws upon to fund its loans. Washington D.C. serves as the IMF’s home office, though its officers and staff travel the  world on official business. IMF

Some world leaders criticize the IMF for exercising too  much influence on global affairs. However; everyone agrees that the person who assumes leadership of the IMF becomes a person of enormous influence and power. On September 28, 2007 Mr. Strauss, a Socialist Party PM and former Finance Minister of France, was elected as managing director of the IMF.  An already powerful man became even more powerful.

On May 15, 2011 Mr. Strauss suffered a complete fail from grace and power. Port Authority detectives arrested him  while he sat on in airplane bound for France. The police eventually charged Mr. Strauss with sexual assault and attempted rape. Just hours earlier a chambermaid at the plush Sofitel hotel had accused him of attacking her in his suite.

The news of Mr. Strauss’ arrest reverberated around the world. The tweets and Facebook posts about the arrest came first. The major newspapers and services followed with their e-mail and text alerts. In an amazingly short time afterwards, television and cable networks were carrying live feed  about the arrest. Because events were unfolding so rapidly I wondered if the police had conducted a thorough pre-arrest investigation. The reports did not mention that Mr. Strauss had been arrested after a lengthy investigation. The police knew that the accused was the head of the IMF and considered the front-runner to become France’s next president. A person in Mr. Strauss’ position would vigorously defend himself if charged with a crime. Under these circumstances the police would be have been foolish if they had not conducted an exhaustive pre-arrest investigation.

After Mr. Strauss’  arrest it became known that the forensic evidence gathered at the scene did show that sexual attack had occurred.  Additionally, the medical examination of the victim, which supposedly took place right after the alleged attack,  failed to support her claim that she had been sexually attacked. Hospital  Records It is common knowledge that sexual liaisons occur in all classes of hotels and that consensual  sex between chambermaids and patrons is not unheard of.  Knowing this and despite the lack of compelling evidence, the NYPD arrested  Mr. Strauss.  The Arrest