Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund jailed over allegations of sexual assault on a New York hotel maid, has quit his official role four days after the incident.
The IMF said Mr. Strauss-Kahn had on Wednesday informed its Executive Board of his resignation. The Fund also announced John Lipsky as acting Managing Director.
In his letter of resignation to the Board, Mr. Strauss-Kahn said he wanted to “devote all my strength, all my time, and all my energy to proving my innocence”. He said it was with “infinite sadness” that he had decided to resign. His thoughts were with his family and colleagues at the Fund with whom he “accomplished such great things over the last three years and more”, he said.
Mr. Strauss-Kahn is being held in isolation at the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York and, according to an AP report, is on suicide watch.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Shapiro, the lawyer of the maid who has alleged Mr. Strauss-Kahn assaulted her, said his client had been unable to resume her duties given the media attention. He also denied it had been consensual sex between Mr. Strauss-Kahn and his client, an argument Mr. Strauss-Kahn's lawyers were said to be considering. “There is no question this was not consensual — she was assaulted and she had to escape from him, which is why when she finally got out of the room, she reported it to security immediately,” said Mr. Shapiro.
The New York Times reported that Mr. Strauss-Kahn would on Thursday seek a renewed bail hearing and would be “willing to be confined to a location in Manhattan, wear an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his movements and post $1 million bail in cash”.
