IMF Head Charged with Sexual Assault

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in JFK airport minutes before his flight took off for Paris.

The head of the International Monetary Fund was charged early Sunday by New York Police over an alleged sexual assault on a hotel maid. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was considered a strong candidate for the French presidency, was arrested from his Air France flight at John F. Kennedy airport and detained for questioning on Saturday night, following the alleged incident at the Sofitel hotel in Manhattan. He faces three charges, including criminal sexual acts, attempted rape, and unlawful imprisonment. His attorneys have commented that he will plead not guilty. IMF bylaws state that its officials "shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts performed by them in their official capacity except when the fund waives this immunity," yet it's unknown whether Strauss-Kahn will, or is able to, claim diplomatic immunity over the allegation.