Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his wife are expected to file an official complaint against an aide to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and several French newspapers for breach of privacy related to accusations that he sexually assaulted a hotel worker in New York.
The former head of the IMF and his partner Anne Sinclair are seeking redress over comments made by Henry Guaino on the French TV channel Paris Première, and subsequently repeated in the press.
He linked Strauss-Kahn’s name to a call-girl ring in the northern French city of Lille, a case concerning prominent businessmen and members of the police that has become known as the ‘Carlton affair’.
Guaino also compared the situation to the alleged incident at the Sofitel New York Hotel in May, describing both as the result of a “zone where private life meets criminality”.
Strauss-Kahn was placed under house arrest at his home in New York while charges were filed against him over the alleged assault of cleaner Nafissatou Diallo. The controversy forced him to resign his presidency of the IMF.
After all charges were dropped in August, Strauss-Kahn returned to France. Despite much support at home, he has ruled out running for the French presidency next year.
