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Many women do not like to report a rape because of the humiliation they suffer in the process of getting their rapist put behind bars.  But, the problem is that it’s a difficult process and the woman, depending on the circumstances surrounding the rape, has a hard time proving her own innocence. Rape cases have a strange way of turning the victim into the guilty party.

But when speaking of high profile rape cases like Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson’s, the stakes are raised even higher.  While these women were vindicated, the image and/or reputation of both women suffered.  Now, one of the biggest rape cases of all time has hit the fan with the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, being embroiled in a NYC rape case with a maid in the luxury Sofitel Hotel.

The maid, Nafissatou Diallo, has been painted as a part-time prostitute, illegal refugee from Guinea, who is trying to entrap the man who would be king…of France.  DSK, as he has come to be called, would’ve been declaring his run for the french Presidency, but all hopes of that are dashed now that the cat is out of the bag about his sexual deviancy.  Diallo feared for her life after pressing charges of rape against one of the most powerful men in the world.

Up until now, Diallo and her daughter have been protected by prosecutors and hidden.  But as her reputation suffered daily in the last two months, she has finally felt compelled to talk to someone and that someone would be Newsweek and ABC.  She has sat with Robin Roberts for ABC’s Good Morning America as well as given a full account to Newsweek. The sordid details have guilt written all over DSK, but this is clearly not how he envisioned the end of his career with a maid knocking him off his perch.  His defense team has taken off the gloves to paint her as an immigrant crook whose blackmail scheme didn’t work for her.

But, the underdog has a few factors working for her as well:

  • Diallo’s story has remained consistent
  • Supervisors and other witnesses at the hotel can validate her story
  • DSK admitted to his wife that he slept with three women that weekend
  • DSK has a checkered past with other women that have accused of him unwanted aggressive advances and/or near sexual assault
  • One french magazine even referred to him as “Dr. Strauss and Mr. Kahn”

Read Diallo’s story here in Newsweek’s story.  You can see part of theinterview with Diallo tomorrow on “Good Morning America” with Robin Roberts.  The full interview will air on Tuesday, July 26 on “Nightline” (11:35 p.m. ET) on ABC.  Check out the schedule here. And let me go on record as saying, I believe her, Anita Hill and Tawana Brawley. Source