Former IMF Chief Strauss-Kahn Pleads Not Guilty

MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT-Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, plead not guilty in a 4 minute arraignment at Manhattan Supreme Court.

Strauss-Kahn was formally arraigned on the indictment counts before State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus on allegations he sexually assaulted a 32 year old maid at the Sofitel New York and made her perform oral sex on him.

Defense lawyers have indicated to reporters that their strategy will be that the sexual encounter was consentual.

The former financier, for the past few weeks has been lodging just blocks from the courthouse where he was arraigned in a luxury townhouse where he is under strict house arrest.

Strauss-Kahn's attornies told Justce Obus they needed more time to asesss evidence collected by prosecutors, semen matching Strauss-Kahn was reportedly found on the maid's dressing and on a carpet where she said she had spit it out on.

Strauss-Kahn's top attorney Benjamin Brafman told reporters, Our judgment, once the evidence is reviewed, will be clear that there was no element of forcible compulsion in this case, Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not credible.

Meanwhile the attorney representing the accuser blasted claims the encounter was consentual as preposterous.

The victim wants you to know that all of Strauss-Kahn's power, money and influence throughout the world will not keep the truth of what he did to her in that hotel room from coming out, attorney Kenneth Thompson said.

Strauss-Kahn returns to court on July 18th.