Computer Records Hold Key In IMF Head's Sexual Assault Case

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Computer Records Hold Key In IMF Head's Sexual Assault Case

Posted by timothy on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @11:00PM from the he-said-she-said-it-said dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "ABA Journal reports that the chief of the International Monetary Fund may claim consent as a defense to accusations that he sexually assaulted a maid at the Sofitel Hotel in New York as defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman told the judge he believed the 'forensic evidence' was 'not consistent with forcible encounter.' Police have said the maid knocked on Strauss-Kahn's door and called out, used her master keycard to open the door, and left her work cart in the doorway, a typical safety practice in hotels. According to the police account, Strauss-Kahn emerged naked, tried to attack the maid, and then shut the hotel door when she tried to escape. The NY Times explains how the key card evidence may play out: 'If the defense for Mr. Strauss-Kahn maintains that the encounter was consensual, its version will have to accommodate the unambiguous computer record of her leaving the door propped open,' the story says."

51 of 252 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

wait wait wait... by Speare · 2011-05-18 23:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

We're following this tabloid crap on Slashdot just because a door has an electronic sensor on it !? Get real, for fuck's sake.

--
[ .sig file not found ]
1. Re:wait wait wait... by Pieroxy · 2011-05-18 23:27 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  +1 on this.
  What should we expect to see next? Topless photos of taken with a digital camera! See all the photos here!
  Just out of curiosity, you forgot to put the link on the "here". Care to share?
  
  --
  Write boring code, not shiny code!
2. Re:wait wait wait... by erroneus · 2011-05-18 23:57 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Actually, no. The Slashdot crowd has interest in the goings on of the IMF and the players involved.
  In case you hadn't noticed, in addition to news stories about gadgets and software, we also have an interest in the things that make the world go around. Among these are copyright, trade mark and patent laws and litigation, money and finance and politics in general.
  If you have noticed, then I have to wonder how you failed to notice that in this case. He's the head of the IMF. He's a big-time shaker, mover and influencer in all things that make the world go around.
3. Re:wait wait wait... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-05-19 00:06 · Score: 2
  
  And also because the head of IMF is accused, a man who thinks that maybe we replace the old $$$ as currency for world trade.
  This would make the dollar act like other currencies, like when a country has trouble, the values is lower...
  I am guessing that there are some in the US who might not like this.
  ( Also he was the top candidate for the opposition in France to replace President Sarkozy. So expect little help from France. )
  There are to many questions and the press just screams "guilty" loud without asking stuff.
  He is shown unshaven, handcuffed dragged to court by two big police officers.
  America knows how to put on a show.
  He is put in a cell under suicide watch (so they can wake him up every 1,5 hours if I understood correctly)
  Something just doesn't smell right.
  Why a man like this would risk it to jump the maid his own hotel room leaves more questions than it answers.
  I am just looking for motive.
  Anyhow, he is now tainted and will never be back in the chair regardless of what.
  Somehow I hope that he is guilty, because he will surely serve some time. Might as well be for something he did.
  Just my 5 cents (yes, €)
4. Re:wait wait wait... by Speare · 2011-05-19 00:50 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  He's the head of the IMF. He's a big-time shaker, mover and influencer in all things that make the world go around.
  Right, so talk about all of those world-affecting issues. The guy's resignation is salient on its own, if someone wants to post a good article on his tenure and the changes this event may effect. The keycard records that play an infinitesimal role in the situation is not salient, or even interesting, but was called out as if some tech shibboleth was required to get coverage here. It's stupid pandering.
  
  --
  [ .sig file not found ]
5. Re:wait wait wait... by Daniel+Kirksey · 2011-05-19 05:03 · Score: 2
  
  Speare, I think your trivializing what makes this interesting to the average Slashdot reader. The head of one of the most powerful institutions in the world is facing complete ruin in a case where the best circumstantial evidence is a simple computer log of "open" or "closed" ("0" or "1"). The computer is speaking with perfect clarity a language with which human witnesses still seem to struggle. What our glorious powers of inductive reasoning interpret from this witness is where the communication starts to break down. Whatever it ends up being, I'll always have more trust in the "electronic sensor" -- despite its limitations. I do appreciate your comment though; the question needed to be asked. Take care.
I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by way2trivial · 2011-05-18 23:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

anyone know what lock system it is?
I only know the specifics of three electronic lock systems...
and all three that I know? only key swiping.. not closings or how long a door was open.
they can't even tell if the door was actually opened-- they can only tell that a key was used
as in, if I flash my key and the lock goes green but I don't open the door?
it records the key use but doesn't know I didn't open it.
if the master metal override key is used is also recorded (and even triggering that event in the memory)
wouldn't require the door to be opened (although it would be noticeable)
anyone know of a lock system that does all they suggest?

--
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
1. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by bill_mcgonigle · 2011-05-19 00:01 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  and all three that I know
  Just curious - did you work in hotels with $3K/night suites? I'd not expect them to have the same key systems as the La Quinta. Don't get me wrong, I prefer the La Quinta to the posh hotels (it's a bed for Pete's sake...) but my question is whether your experience is directly relevant.
  For instance, most office buildings I've worked in with prox-card systems will sound an alarm if the door is left open for more than 30 seconds (or whatever they're programmed for) to prevent unauthorized entry.
  
  --
  My God, it's Full of Source!
  OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
2. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by SimonTheSoundMan · 2011-05-19 00:02 · Score: 2
  
  It's kind of funny, but kind of not. There's a bus stop literally right outside one of the entrances to the building. Normally what happens is a crowd of people get off the bus and one will use their card to open the door. Once the door's open the rest just rush in. Big security issue.
  Why not just use turnstyles?
3. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by Kreigaffe · 2011-05-19 00:31 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Real estate.
  If they were really concerned about security, the outer-most door wouldn't be the one with the lock -- it would simply lead to a lobby or vestibule, a non-secure but indoor and dry area, visible to security, through which employees would pass in a more orderly fashion to a secure door leading into the building proper.
  People rush through because they don't want to form up in a line outside. Once they're inside, it's not so big of an issue to stand around a bit longer. They're out of the weather, away from the traffic. But security theater is so much more entertaining..
  
  --
  ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
4. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by Hellsbells · 2011-05-19 01:06 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  I write software for card access systems.
  Smaller systems can record an event when the card was swiped, when the door was opened, when the door was closed and when the lock is engaged or disengaged.
  They'll also record an event if the door was opened without a successful card swipe.
  Most decent electronic locks will return this kind of data.
5. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by 19thNervousBreakdown · 2011-05-19 01:07 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  What sort of people stay at a $5000 per night suite?
  Rapists?
  
  --
  <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
6. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by cbeaudry · 2011-05-19 01:17 · Score: 2
  
  Commercial access control systems like those used in your building (i.e. Softwarehouse, Kantech, Lenel, Winpak Pro) are completely different from Hotel management systems.
  You have door strkes, readers, contacts, request to exit devices on standard access control, and those are all connected to a Controler, that manages access and events and sends all history to a server system. Every person has an access card that can be activated or revoked remotely.
  Hotel systems have standalone readers, with no door contacts. Without a contact, you cant tell the door status or record it. When someone rents a room, the clerk programs a new card. When the card is presented at the room door, the lock recognises the key and algorythm, deletes the old key and switches to the new key the card told it to use. There is no central monitoring or managing of each reader.
  The cost of wiring for each room lock in hotels would be crazy. Imagine having to wire each door at the Ceasars palace in Vegas. The cost would be phenomenal. (then again, they do wire all 6000+ cameras and record all video for a long time :) )
7. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by cbeaudry · 2011-05-19 01:25 · Score: 2
  
  At 5000$, Id expect someone to manually delete all footage of my presence in the hotel.
  There is a price to privacy :)
8. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by PPH · 2011-05-19 02:20 · Score: 2
  
  Hotel systems have standalone readers, with no door contacts. Without a contact, you cant tell the door status or record it.
  You can monitor the latch status. And you can assume that the door is open when the latch is open.
  
  There is no central monitoring or managing of each reader.
  But the readers have a buffer that records events. When some unusual circumstance arises, management goes up with a reader and dumps a copy of the log. If nothing happens, the log is overwritten (over several days or weeks).
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
9. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by imahawki · 2011-05-19 03:04 · Score: 2
  
  Turnstyles aren't allowed by the fire marshal in my city. We're building a new HQ and they fire marshal said we cannot use them.
10. Re:I read that story before- and I work at a hotel by cbeaudry · 2011-05-19 03:14 · Score: 2
  
  Some have history, some do not.
  And most do not monitor a latch status, however, brand new (as in installed within the last year) systems in brand spanking new hotels are starting to have some of these features.
  I dont see why Sofitel hotel would have these, but maybe they do...
  There is always a cost to these. In a hotel like the Sofitel (398 rooms), equipping the doors with a key system can range from $200 000 to $600 000.
Which was it?? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-05-18 23:06 · Score: 3, Insightful

tried to attack the maid, and then shut the hotel door when she tried to escape

If the defense for Mr. Strauss-Kahn maintains that the encounter was consensual, its version will have to accommodate the unambiguous computer record of her leaving the door propped open,'

Above 2 statements are contradictory
1. Re:Which was it?? by uglyduckling · 2011-05-18 23:13 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I don't think they're contradictory, you've just spotted the obvious version of the story that would "accommodate the unambiguous computer record", and make the NY Times article a load of hot air. The maid will claim he shut the door to imprison her, he will claim they shut the door after mutually agreeing to sex. So these records prove nothing, other than that the encounter most likely started with the usual practice of the maid propping the door open to valet the room.
2. Re:Which was it?? by BasilBrush · 2011-05-18 23:27 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  First of all, does the door system really record the times of opening and closings of the door, rather than just door unlocking.
  If so, then the point is not whether either side can come up with a story NOW which can explain the record. But whether the record is consistent with the initial statement they gave to the police. Maybe both are statements are consistent with the electronic record. But maybe one of them isn't. And that would be vital evidence.
3. Re:Which was it?? by thePowerOfGrayskull · 2011-05-19 03:24 · Score: 2
  
  I don't see the contradiction. Maid opens door. Maid props door open. Some time later as specified in her story the door would close. The amount of time is wha t becomes important. It's only useless (but not contradictory) if they both specified the same amount of time- because then even assuming that duration open was captured it wouldn't reveal anything.
4. Re:Which was it?? by DavidTC · 2011-05-19 04:04 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  It would explain why they both said the door was shut when it really wasn't, although you'd still think they might have noticed that.
  You think someone closing the door for consensual sex might notice that, especially if she worked at the hotel and knew exactly how that worked.
  OTOH, someone shoving the cleaning cart out of the way and closing the door to stop someone from fleeing might not notice that, and the person attempting to flee might not either.
  Alternately, perhaps the cart didn't make it out of the way, and was still holding the door open. Perhaps the handle got caught in it.
  Incidentally, I've seen maids prop open doors with their cart, but I thought they just didn't want to bring the carts into the room, but yet didn't want to leave it, unobserved, out in the hall. Plus it would be tricky to get stuff off the cart without having to unlock the door again.
  I never realized they did it as a safety feature. It's doubly smart...it makes it hard to close the door, and if this hotel did it like the hotel I saw, and someone did close the door, the cart would end up outside the room, so that people could actually find the maid if she temporarily vanished in circumstances like this.
  Incidentally, the idea of a maid in an expensive hotel deciding to, during cleaning, to randomly have sex with some visitor is idiotic. Maids tend to be on tight schedules. I can see some hypothetical 'come back later' scenario, but during cleaning is just stupid.
  
  --
  If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
Closing the door equates to consent by mangu · 2011-05-18 23:07 · Score: 2

It's not opening the door, it's keeping it open with the cleaning cart that matters. Unless she was a pervert who enjoys fucking with the door open, of course.
1. Re:Closing the door equates to consent by thej1nx · 2011-05-19 01:49 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Are you being dense on purpose? The maid says that she had left the door propped open and Strauss closed it later, so the electronic records for the lock should corroborate her story. If the records show instead that the door was closed immediately after her entry, her story would not match up and will be proof that she is not being truthful. Simple enough.
my unambiguous tush by fche · 2011-05-18 23:14 · Score: 3, Insightful

The "unambiguous computer records" at issue here are the supposed times and codes of door openings and times of closings. It's unambiguously useless for telling apart situation (a) the attempted rapist guest closes the door and (b) the maid interested in extracurricular activities closes the door.
Re:Huh by RL78 · 2011-05-18 23:16 · Score: 5, Informative

This is about reconciling their stories. Evidence of lying is a good place to start.
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by Anonymous Coward · 2011-05-18 23:19 · Score: 2, Informative

DSK is very famous for its relationship with women. He loves sex and women love him.
Generally, the women are very satisfied. Why on earth would he run after a maid if she was not make him advances ?
In this story, only idiots could believe he is a sexual predator, the plot theory is by far the most probable.
It is not the first try to trap him on his sexual weakness, but it is the first time it is not defeated.
well according to other reports on the Intertubes, she may be HIV+ so the unabiguous computer records will be trumped by the unambigous antibody records...
Funny, I heard the same thing about their cameras by digitaldc · 2011-05-18 23:36 · Score: 4, Interesting

I heard on the radio the other day that hotel and city surveillance cameras were going to be the key to prove his innocence or guilt since they are virtually EVERYWHERE in New York City.
The other interesting tidbit of information is that DSK said that he would be set-up in some sort of entrapment sex scandal a few weeks before he arrived in the USA.
Makes you wonder...

--
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
Re:Funny, I heard the same thing about their camer by JustOK · 2011-05-18 23:48 · Score: 2, Interesting

"I'm going to be framed!" Sow the seeds of reasonable doubt before the crime.

--
rewriting history since 2109
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by JaredOfEuropa · 2011-05-18 23:49 · Score: 2

Famous indeed....

--
If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by gilleain · 2011-05-18 23:54 · Score: 2

It is not the first try to trap him on his sexual weakness, but it is the first time it is not defeated.
"Oh no! My one weakness : sex! If only you hadn't been a woman cleaning my room when I stepped out of the shower or I might have been able to resist fucking you!"
Don't make me laugh. If she's lying, that's one thing. But I don't think that 'sexual weakness' is a valid defence in court, somehow. This all reminds me of Julian Assange - it is possible that DSK is very good at his job, and great in many other ways, but _at the same time_ a sexual predator to some extent.
Much Broader Implications by bill_mcgonigle · 2011-05-18 23:55 · Score: 2, Interesting

I'm sure it's just coincidence that on his first non-diplomatic trip to the US after denouncing the US Dollar Strauss-Kahn is found to be a perv, thrown in Riker's Island, and Geithner demands his resignation.

--
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
1. Re:Much Broader Implications by Rakshasa+Taisab · 2011-05-19 02:18 · Score: 2
  
  Everyone knows he liked women, that has never been the issue unless you are one of those who think everyone who isn't monogamous and/or virgins until they get married... A pervert would be someone who employs more buttplugs than there are butts, not someone who just likes sex.
  
  The issue here is that considering the Euro Debt Crisis and how much of a change in direction his resignation would herald, we're talking about half a trillion dollars worth of Greek debt that will end up being restructured... In addition the domino-effect it will have.
  
  So this could very well be a setup, where they aimed at his virility. Or someone who realized how much money they could sue for, after getting paid for giving a blowjob. Or the guy might have gotten a bit too excited going beyond what she was willing to do. Or it might have been a real attempted rape as claimed.
  
  --
  - These characters were randomly selected.
2. Re:Much Broader Implications by NeutronCowboy · 2011-05-19 04:27 · Score: 2
  
  Just a little hint: never read English newspaper about French politics, or vice versa. There's still enough animosity floating around that you can't get straight answers from one about the other. One notable exception might be the Economist.
  
  --
  Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by swalve · 2011-05-19 00:04 · Score: 2

Only an idiot denies that sexual urges are rational. Some men like the chase. Where is the passion if women are lining up to suckle at your manly teet? Chasing tail is exhilerating, and overcoming objections is ego-boosting. Likely, he has done things like this before, and has previously relied on women's shame or discretion to keep it out of the courts. This time he was not so lucky.
Reasonable Doubt by bill_mcgonigle · 2011-05-19 00:08 · Score: 4, Insightful

The maid will claim he shut the door to imprison her, he will claim they shut the door after mutually agreeing to sex. So these records prove nothing
Fortunately the accused in our system don't have to prove anything, just convince the jury that there's reasonable doubt. If it boils down to a he-said/she-said situation, that shouldn't be too hard. If there's further evidence of sexual entrapment, even easier.
But, no matter, he'll have been replaced at the IMF even before a pre-trial hearing, so the goal will have been met and it doesn't matter what the judicial outcome is.

--
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
1. Re:Reasonable Doubt by gmhowell · 2011-05-19 01:27 · Score: 2
  
  Fortunately the accused in our system don't have to prove anything, just convince the jury that there's reasonable doubt. If it boils down to a he-said/she-said situation, that shouldn't be too hard. If there's further evidence of sexual entrapment, even easier.
  But, no matter, he'll have been replaced at the IMF even before a pre-trial hearing, so the goal will have been met and it doesn't matter what the judicial outcome is.
  Shame that the presumption of innocence does not apply to rape in practice.
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Re:Other reasons by whoda · 2011-05-19 00:10 · Score: 4, Funny

And the he ejaculated into her mouth and turned her around and bent her over because that's how justice rolls in France?
Intelligence evidence by Issarlk · 2011-05-19 00:10 · Score: 4, Insightful

I bet a few people where listening to bugs planted in that room. too bad that kind of evidence will never become public.
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by obarthelemy · 2011-05-19 00:17 · Score: 3, Insightful

I have a few quite celebrity-aware friends. I'm always amazed at how many celebrities (A- to D-list) I come across when I'm with them. I can conceive of a poor immigrant woman not having either knowledge nor interest about the west's current nomenklatura. I'm French and, honestly, before this, I probably wouldn't have recognized him either. His name I would, his face,not.
She's been cleaning $3000 a night rooms for 3 years. If she wanted to blackmail people, she wouldn't run off to the police, she would probably target business, sports, show-business people rather than politicians, and above all she would ask privately for money, not publicly for justice.

--
The Cloud - because you don't care if your apps and data are up in the air.
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by redelm · 2011-05-19 00:44 · Score: 2

58% of france also believe DSK was entraped. It should be dispelled:
Some women might well enjoy DSK. That does not mean all will. Some might like an aggressive approach. Not all will. He has had some past accusations (withdrawn).
The victim is a muslim widow from West Africa with political asylum. She reported immediately and is inconsoleable. Unless this can be disproven and she is unmasked as some sort of agent, her word is good.
If DSK is a predator, he would not wait for advances. If he is not a predator, why would he even respond to advances? Knowing the danger, he would have keeped it zipped.
Or does 58% of france believe that true men never say no? LOL!
Re:Huh by elrous0 · 2011-05-19 01:33 · Score: 2

If I were the lead investigator, the first thing I would do is ask both parties to take a lie detector exam. And I *WOULD NOT* allow the FBI or any other federal agency to administer it.
This whole thing smells fishy as hell to me. First Julian Assnage, now this guy. It seems that a lot of people these days are deciding to become rapists right after they cross the U.S.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Re:Huh by Golddess · 2011-05-19 01:41 · Score: 2

Perhaps I'm missing something, but the way I'm reading it, there are 2 possible scenarios.

1) Straight from TFS, "According to the police account, Strauss-Kahn emerged naked, tried to attack the maid, and then shut the hotel door when she tried to escape".
2) She did consent, and either he or she shut the door for some privacy.

In both cases, the door gets shut.

--
"I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
Room service by ArsenneLupin · 2011-05-19 02:05 · Score: 3, Funny

For example, if a male guest calls for service, the housekeeping department will send up a male attendant.
“Oftentimes, male guests will order the pay-per-view adult movies, and then call for towels, perhaps hoping that a woman will be sent to bring them up,” said Peter M. Krauss, chief sales and marketing officer for Plasticard Locktech International of Asheville, N.C., which provides card keys to hotels. “So whenever they can, the hotels will send up a male if the call comes from a male guest.”
Pssht! There are three kinds of adult movies.... And for one kind, it might be safer to send a female attendant, especially if the guest ordered extra soap...
No broader than rape. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-05-19 02:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

Guy has a history of sexual harassment/assault. Victim says she was assaulted and forensic evidence seems to support her account. There's no need to invent conspiracy theories here.
Just because a guy happens to be a "socialist" or French or anti-US doesn't make him *not* a rich, powerful douche who thinks he can do whatever he likes to whomever he likes. This guy violated another human being and deserves what he gets. I don't care who he is or what he thinks about our currency.
Re:Other reasons by ArsenneLupin · 2011-05-19 02:18 · Score: 2

trying to force her out of the room by locking her in?judging by his career, the guy is smarter than that.
How can you lock somebody into a hotel room? Don't these door always open from the inside even if locked, for fire security reasons?
Re:The maid story is unbelievable by TheRaven64 · 2011-05-19 02:30 · Score: 3, Informative

I'm by no means an expert in this field, but from what I've read of the psychology of rapists, it's usually more about the power than the sex. Most men who rape men are heterosexual - they're sexually aroused by the act of forcing themselves on someone else, not by their victims.

--
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
25 minutes by LoganDzwon · 2011-05-19 03:31 · Score: 2

According to what information we've been given as fact, the maid entered the room shortly after 12:00 noon, and he checked out at 12:28. In that time, according to the maid he chased her, forced her to give him oral, anally raped her, tried to vaginally rape her. Anyone that's anal sex knows it's save to assume he must have washed up at lest a little. We know he put on his suit before checking out. I'm not saying I have opinion either way, but that is a lot to do in 25 minutes.
1. Re:25 minutes by iserlohn · 2011-05-19 03:59 · Score: 2
  
  First rule of the r@pe club - you do not force oral unless you want to end up like John Bobbit.
  
  --
  :. Ultimate Control Dedicated/VM Servers
Re:Huh by c0mpliant · 2011-05-19 03:57 · Score: 2

Using FMRI is not fool proof. You don't even need to be trained in it to beat that. At most its 80% effective, which will not be admissable in court. Is it better than the standard polygraph? Yes, but not, as you say, 100% accurate.

--
There is no -1 disagree
Big story in Europe - lots at stake here. by florimon · 2011-05-19 09:17 · Score: 2

In Europe, this has actually been big news, as there are several interesting facets on this case.
You have to know, that the other big thing going on in Europe right now, is how to deal with the issue of Greece's severe debts, problematic economy, and them asking again for money, shortly after they've already 'received' over 100 billion euro's. Not only that, but Portugal, Ireland and Spain are also in trouble.
This is causing a lot of political turmoil, with some even going as far as proposing that Greece be kicked out of the euro-zone, instead of spending more money on them. Now Strauss-Kahn was a leading proponent of giving Greece a second bailout, and he was due for a meeting on this very topic last Sunday with German chancellor Angela Merkel, but instead was pulled out of the plane that would take him to that meeting. No matter how DSK's case pans out, he's already gone from the IMF. Who knows what views on the Greece issue his successor will have? Or what the future of the euro-zone will look like? Will it include Greece defaulting on its debts, (forcedly) abandoning the euro and returning to the drachme, and if that happens and a precedent is set, Portugal, Ireland and/or Spain doing the same? Or if the weaker countries refuse to abandon the euro, maybe the stronger countries doing it instead (already 'threatened' by some politicians in The Netherlands and in Germany)...
And of course conspiracy theories have also been aired, that claim that DSK was framed, either because of this euro-crisis thing, or because he was also the next presidential candidate of the French socialist party and was much less 'America-friendly' than current president Sarkozy.
So all in all, I'd say it's as least as newsworthy as some of the other crap I've seen posted here :)