The New York Post in print and online is running stories on sex charges against IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ahead of his trial in a way that would land an editor in jail over here.The Post story starts: "France's leading presidential candidate may have pounced on a Manhattan hotel maid -- but she wanted it, his lawyer asserted in court yesterday, hinting at what could be an explosive defense."
It also claims:"Disturbing information also emerged about Strauss-Kahn's behavior after he left the hotel -- including his coolly having lunch with his daughter, who lives in Manhattan, at a restaurant about a half-hour after the alleged attack."
In contrast, John Lichfield, writing in the Independent today, says the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn reveals an uncomfortable truth about the disfunctional relationship between French politics, privacy laws and the press.
He writes: "The French media and French justice systems have an extravagant definition of the extents of "privacy" for public figures. Consensual extramarital affairs are one thing. Sexual harassment, bordering on assault is another.The British media may be guilty of being too prurient about the private activities of politicians; the French media is too supine."
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