Dominique Strauss-Kahn may have avoided criminal charges after sexual assault accusation in the United States, but he's now facing a different set of troubles thanks to his involvement in another scandal back in home country. The former head of the International Monetary Fund is being questioned today, about his role in a suspected prostitution ring that supplied women to the guests at a luxury hotel in the city of Lille. Strauss-Kahn submitted himself for police interviews on Tuesday and can be held for 48 hours without being charged with a crime.

Strauss-Kahn has admitted to attending elaborate sex parties at the Carlton Hotel, as well as other parties in Paris and Washington, but that he did not know that the women involved where paid to be there. Going to a prostitute is not illegal France, but it is illegal to supply others with prostitutes. Also, an official in his position is not permitted to accept gifts of any kind from a company, which means if police can prove the the women were paid for by corporate funds, he could face bribery or fraud charges. Several other prominent businessmen and police officials in Lille have already been arrested in the case.

DSK, has he has come to be known, resigned from the IMF last year after a maid at a New York hotel accused him of sexually assaulting her in his room. The criminal charges were dropped, but the maid is still pursuing a civil case against him, and the man once thought to be a future president of France has been accused of frequently lecherous and occasionally criminal behavior by several other women. No matter what accusations you choose to belief, it never helps your political prospects when your lawyer is forced to make ridiculous denials like this one: 

"He could easily not have known, because as you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you're not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman."

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at dashiell at dashiellbennett dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Dashiell Bennett