Ex-IMF chief Strauss-Kahn settles with sex accuser

NEW YORK — Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid settled her lawsuit Monday over sexual-assault allegations that sank his political career and spurred scrutiny of his dealings with women on two continents.

State Supreme CourtJustice Douglas McKeon announced that after lengthy negotiations in the suit brought by Nafissatou Diallo, the parties “came together and put terms of a settlement on the record.” The amount of the settlement was kept confidential.

Mr. Strauss-Kahn did not attend the hearing on Monday at a Bronx courthouse. Ms. Diallo, her hair covered by a leopard-print scarf, looked composed and resolute as the deal was announced.

“I thank everybody all over the world and everybody at the court, and God bless you all,” Ms. Diallo said afterward.

Her attorney, Kenneth Thompson, called her “a strong and courageous woman who never lost faith in the justice system.”

“With this resolution, she can move on with her life,” he said.

In a statement, lawyers William Taylor III and Amit Mehta, thanked the judge.

“On behalf of Mr. Strauss-Kahn, we are pleased to have arrived at a resolution of this matter,” they said. “We are grateful to Judge McKeon, whose patience and forbearance allowed this agreement to be formulated.”

The lawsuit stemmed from a May 2011 hotel-suite encounter that also led to criminal charges, forced Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s resignation from the IMF and cut off his potential candidacy for the French presidency.

Ms. Diallo, 33, a housekeeper from Guinea, told police Mr. Strauss-Kahn forced her to perform oral sex and tried to rape her after she arrived to clean his suite. Mr. Strauss-Kahn, 63, who has since separated from his wife, has said what happened was “a moral failing,” but was consensual.

The criminal case was dropped after prosecutors said Ms. Diallo had credibility problems.

She said she always told the truth about what happened between the two and would press her claims in the lawsuit. Mr. Strauss-Kahn called the suit defamatory and countersued for $1 million.

On Monday, the judge said he first met with Ms. Diallo earlier this year.

“At that time, we discussed her willingness to allow settlement negotiations to take place in this case,” he said.

“I’ve developed a great affection for all of you,” the judge continued, referring to the parties, “and have gotten to know Ms. Diallo through the time that I spent with her. I want to say what a privilege it has been to work with all of you and to work on this case.”

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