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PARIS – A French prosecutor on Monday opened a preliminary investigationinto allegations of rape in a Washington hotel by former IMF chiefand one-time French presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The move by the prosecutor in Lille in northern France followed arequest by investigating judges earlier this month to broaden asuspected prostitution probe to examine the claims of rape inDecember 2010. The prosecutor's office said in a statement that they are lookinginto the allegation that Strauss-Kahn may have been involved in arape during a sex party in the hotel while he was head of theInternational Monetary Fund. The married Strauss-Kahn, 63, says whatever happened wasconsensual, and he has denied doing anything violent. The prominenteconomist, once a top contender for France's presidency, has seenhis career and reputation crumble since he was accused of sexualassault in a New York hotel a year ago. Strauss-Kahn is already a target in the Lille prostitution probe,which has mushroomed over the past year into a nationwide scandal.He is facing preliminary charges of alleged aggravated pimping,based on accusations by other people questioned in theinvestigation. He denies those charges. He has acknowledged being involved in"libertine" activity, while saying that he was unaware of anyonebeing paid for sex. French daily Liberation reported this month that two Belgianprostitutes questioned in the Lille probe described Strauss-Kahn asusing violence during sex at the W Hotel in Washington and forcinga sexual act on her despite her protests. Citing leaked transcripts of witness testimony to Belgian police,also involved in the probe, Liberation cited one of the prostitutesas saying that Strauss-Kahn "used force, he held down my hands, hepulled my hair, he hurt me." The woman is quoted as testifying thatanother man held her hands down while Strauss-Kahn assaulted her. Neither of the prostitutes has filed legal complaints, but Frenchrules allow for an investigation even without a formal complaint. The Lille probe focuses on a suspected prostitution ring involvingprominent city figures and police. Prostitutes questioned in thecase said they had sex with Strauss-Kahn in 2010 and 2011 at aluxury hotel in Paris, a restaurant in the French capital and alsoin Washington, D.C., where he lived while working at theWashington-based IMF, judicial officials say. Strauss-Kahn is also facing a trial in New York over a lawsuit by ahotel maid who accused him of sexual assault in May 2011. A judgeruled this week that the trial can go forward despiteStrauss-Kahn's claim that he had diplomatic immunity. Strauss-Kahn has countersued, filing a $1 million lawsuit againstthe New York City hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, saying sheseriously damaged his reputation with what he calls a bogusallegation. The disgraced French politician said in court papers filed lastweek that the Guinean-born Diallo made a "malicious and wantonfalse accusation" when she said he assaulted her one year ago aftershe arrived to clean his hotel suite. A French writer had accused Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting herduring an interview in 2003, but prosecutors ruled last year thattoo much time had passed to pursue her complaint. All the accusations against Strauss-Kahn, known as DSK in France,prompted discussion in France about ingrained sexism and sexualharassment in politics and business in this country. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Dimmable E27 Led Bulb , China E27 Led Light Bulbs, and more. For more , please visit Dimmable E27 Led Bulb today!
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