Sexual assault charges continue to haunt Dominique Strauss-Kahn days after charges against him in New York were found on shaky grounds.

The 32 year-old French journalist and writer, Tristane Banon alleged that Strauss-Kahn assaulted her eight years ago. A French lawyer of Dominique Strauss-Kahn has filed a counterclaim for “false declarations”.

Strauss-Kahn’s co-counsel Benjamin Brafman said, “I do not wish to comment” with respect to these allegations.

Banon’s mother, Socialist politician Anne Mansouret has discouraged her daughter in 2003 to file a police report at that time since she feared it would hurt her journalism career.

Strauss-Kahn was a front-runner for the presidential elections until the New York arrest. Though there have been talks of revived chances in next year’s elections due to the turnaround in the case. Mansouret recently pulled out of the Socialist party presidential primaries. Mansouret said that her daughter had interviewed Strauss-Kahn in 2003. Later on, he sent her text message saying he was not happy with the interview and needed to discuss about the interview.

After she arrived, Strauss-Kahn locked the door to the room and took her hand and grabbed her arm. The incident ended up with the two struggling on the ground. She managed to escape the apartment and locked her herself in the car for an hour and half until her mother arrived.

But no such reports were filed then due to the fear of being called “Strauss-Kahn’s victim”.

STRAUSS-KAHN TO FACE TRISTANE BANON RAPE ALLEGATIONS

Report by Sumit