How race has put Strauss-Kahn's accuser on trial:
"In my professional opinion as a former attorney who has had to evaluate evidence,
the credibility of witnesses, and whether or not to settle a case or drop it, let me say
that I find Ms. Diallo's rape allegations against Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn very credible
and worthy of prosecution.
The 800 lb elephant in the room, however, is the issue of her race and status and how
that may impact the prosecution's decision to go forward or not. There is also the venue
issue whether or not such a trail would take place in Manhattan or in the Bronx where
she might find a more sympathetic jury. This is a classic, and tragic case where the victim
(a woman of color and immigrant status) has already been deemed 'suspect' with regard to
her allegations, and her past associations and veracity (truth-telling) as the star witness for
the prosecution because of her low socio-economic status. It is a case of David versus Goliath:
The alleged perpetrator is a world renowned financial leader, a potential candidate for the
presidency of France, his wife is a wealthy socialite, and he has friends in high places who
will do anything to see him exonerated of these damaging allegations. The victim on the other
hand is an immigrant from Guinea (who ironically sought asylum here in the U.S. because
she claimed to have been gang raped in Guinea), a domestic, who resides in the Bronx.
The power imbalance here is enormous, but the facts deserve our attention and action.
As far as I can tell the circumstantial evidence against Kahn is enormous. Diallo alleges he
startled her naked upon entering his room to clean up, then assaulted her, and ultimately
brutally forced her to perform oral sex on him."
