DSK agrees to pay
December 11, 2012
A judge ordered that the details of the deal between Strauss-Kahn and Nafissatou Diallo, who accused him of forcing her to perform oral sex, be kept confidential.
"I thank everyone who supports me," Diallo said. "I thank God, and God bless you all."
A scandal erupted after Diallo told police that Strauss-Kahn assaulted her at the New York Sofitel on May 14, 2011. The IMF chief was detained on a plane at John F. Kennedy airport and was held for several days at New York's Rikers Island jail. Then he quickly resigned as IMF chief.
Undefined sum
Strauss-Kahn's lawyers dismissed a report in France's Le Monde newspaper that Diallo would be paid $6 million (4.64 million euros) as "dramatically inaccurate"
The 63-year-old was not in New York for the hearing. He is under investigation for other scandals in France, but Monday's agreement means at least one less to deal with for him.
Diallo also settled a separate action against the New York Post tabloid. The newspaper had accused Diallo of being a prostitute.
No criminal punishment
In August 2011, prosecutors dropped criminal charges against Strauss-Kahn, declaring that Diallo was not a credible witness. Strauss-Kahn returned to France even though she maintained her civil suit against him.
Strauss-Kahn, or DSK as he is affectionately referred to back in France, faces other sexual misconduct allegations at home.
The author Tristane Banon has accused him of trying to rape her in 2003. Investigators have found evidence of sexual assault, but concluded that any attack happened too long ago to be prosecuted.
Strauss-Kahn was also recently let off the hook for the alleged gang rape of a Belgian prostitute when she recanted and called the incident consensual. On December 19 Strauss-Kahn will learn whether he faces pimping charges after allegations that he and associates arranged sex parties with prostitutes for wealthy men.
Prior to the allegations, Strauss-Kahn had hoped to be the Socialist candidate for France's presidency. He has since also separated from his wife.
mkg/ccp (AFP, Reuters, dpa, AP)