1. “[Images of DSK's arrest] showed a brutality, a violence, of an incredible cruelty, and I’m glad we don’t have the same judiciary system [in France].” — Elisabeth Guigou, former Justice Minister.
2. “Imagine that we discover that it’s a maid who has only been a maid for two days. …The investigation will tell whether it’s true or not true.”– Bernard Tapie, French businessman and former owner of Adidas.
3. “We cannot rule out the thought of a trap.” — Henri de Raincourt, Sarkozy Government Minister for Overseas Cooperation.
4. “That he could be taken in like that seems astounding, so he must have been trapped.” — Christine Boutin, head of the Christian Democratic Party.
5. “This morning, I hold it against the American judge who, by delivering him to the crowd of photo hounds, pretended to take him for a subject of justice like any other. I am troubled by a system of justice modestly termed “accusatory,” meaning that anyone can come along and accuse another fellow of any crime—and it will be up to the accused to prove that the accusation is false and without basis in fact.” — Bernard Henri-Levy, philosopher.
I take it Polanski was unavailable for comment.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm no fan of the "perp walk," because it really does give the image of guilt before a trial is complete. The French have a point. Not suggesting anyone muzzle the press in pre-trial situations, but reputations can be destroyed before the case is called.
That said, the French elite (I suppose these folks are "elite") also indulge in a bit too much reflexive anti-Americanism. It's early, but I wager the script is written in France. For French elite, he's been found "framed," even before the trial.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNote that 'philosopher' Henri-Levy calls U.S. system "accusatory." But fails to note in France the prosecution accuses and the accused is guilty until he can prove himself innocent. Both systems are accusatory but in France the burden of proof is not on the accuser but on the accused. In France Strauss-Khan would likely never have been accused of rape; rather, his standing enhanced by 'a little scandal.' A culturally myopic moment: C'est la vie.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat a travesty to mistake a french celebrity for a "subject of justice like any other."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was hopping DSK was going to run for presidency in France. He is a brilliant intellectual, and could have level up political debates in the country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was completely stunned by the event !!
Completly unbelievable, is the word every french citizen had on the moment.
What a shame if it turns to be true.
People have a distorted understanding of innocent until proven guilty. That standard only applies to the judge and jurors. It does not apply to the police, media or the general public.
It's like requiring that the nation treat Booth as an innocent. No one doubted that Booth was guilty of assassinating Lincoln but jurors of his peers had to take an oath that they would uphold that standard. But to require it of everyone would be absurd and turn our justice system into a circus.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAren't jurors drawn from the "general public"? Yes, I do believe they are. So in your world, where the police, the media, and the general public all immediately jump to the conclusion that the man is guilty as charged, how are impartial jurors found? Please explain.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis, from a country in which you can be prosecuted, fined, or jailed just for writing or saying something which causes someone else to throw their hands and exclaim, "That offends me!"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe philosophical giant BHL is, of course, confusing "accusatory" with "adversarial", the latter being the Anglo-American alternative to the French system of "inquisitorial" justice. As anyone with any acquaintance with the American judicial system knows, DSK has far more rights as a criminal defendant in the United States than he would in his fatherland.
To be fair to the French, though, one can't judge a county by its intellectuals. Le Figaro is running an on-line poll at the moment asking, "Do you think DSK was treated fairly by American justice?" It's not scientific, but the 30,000-plus responses so far are over 70 percent "oui".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDear France,
No one anywhere cares what you think about anything, ever. Your attention would be much better focused on pathetically losing your current war with yet another backward jerkwater third world country. In the meantime, you'll be happy to know that DSK's alleged posterior fetish will be more than satisfied by the incarcerated proletariat who populate the New York penal system.
Signed,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseEveryone, everywhere, ever
Has anyone see the maid outfit? Did it perhaps resemble a petite femme skunk? Was the hotel doing any painting?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFor all it's worth, I'm French (though living abroad), and incredibly ashamed by this. Thinking about giving back my passport...
And, fortunately, many share my opinion, though for obvious reasons they are not the one you read about in the French media.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBHL also defended his dear friend Polanski. Perhaps we need a term for him other than philosopher...misogynist? Liar? Defender of Elitist Sex Criminals?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot endorsing the reflexive anti-Americanism, but I think there's a point to be made about the value of the "perp walk." It adds nothing to news stories other than the visual and it really does create an image of guilt. You're looking to hide yourself because you don't want people to remember you as arrested. If you're innocent, there's every reason to try to avoid lasting images of you as a perp.
I'm not going to suggest a law against the press taking photos (nor would I support one), but if the practice stopped, we would lose nothing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePoor DSK. He'll get his day in court.If he did what DNA evidence seems to suggest (according to reports), has anyone considered the poor maid who was subjected to such horrible violence?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse#5 actually sounds more like the French version of jurisprudence. It certainly has no relation to the American version.
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