Dominique Strauss-Kahn And New York Hotel Maid Reach Settlement Deal

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has reportedly reached a deal with the New York hotel maid who accused him of sexual assault last year. The criminal charges against the French politician were dropped, but the maid had also filed a civil lawsuit that was pending before the reported settlement.

In May 2011, Nafissatou Diallo, then a maid in the Sofitel hotel in New York, accused Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting her as she was cleaning his room, The New York Times reported.

The sexual assault accusation led to a global scandal and forced Strauss-Kahn out as head of the International Monetary Fund and derailed any political ambitions, including a chance at becoming France's next president. Strauss-Kahn was soon arrested and charged with seven crimes stemming from the incident, including attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and a criminal sexual act, the Times said.

But Diallo's character was soon questioned, and there was a revelation that she had lied about another rape allegation, the Associated Press reported. The charges were later dropped, but not before Diallo and her attorneys filed a civil lawsuit in the Bronx, claiming that the attack “robbed her of her dignity as a woman,” according to the Times. Strauss-Kahn filed a $1 million counter-suit, the AP said, citing damage to his reputation and the destruction of his political career.

Diallo's civil lawsuit could have further damaged Strauss-Kahn's reputation, the Times noted. Diallo said she had testimony from other victims of Strauss-Kahn, and that the attack on her was merely one of long series. Strauss-Kahn has maintained that the encounter with Diallo was consensual although an error of judgment on his part. But embarrassing stories of his sexual activities surfaced that doomed his career and his marriage.

The New York Times reports that attorneys for Strauss-Kahn and Diallo are to meet next week at the State Supreme Court in the Bronx in front of Justice Douglas E. McKeon. It is too early to determine the monetary amount of any settlement and, while the deal was reportedly agreed upon, it has yet to be signed. The AP noted that the deal may include a confidentiality agreement between Diallo and Strauss-Kahn that would prevent either party from discussing the incident.

Strauss-Kahn is also facing charges that he was a client of a prostitution ring in France. French courts are expected to decide on whether to proceed with the charges in December, the AP reported. Diallo also settled another lawsuit with New York Post over articles saying she was a prostitute.