French President Nicolas Sarkozy is rejecting claims that he caused the scandal that thwarted a bid for the presidency by former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Sarkozy said during a campaign speech in central France April 28 that Strauss-Kahn should "explain himself to the law and spare the French public his remarks."
The ex-IMF boss had been favored to win the presidential election as the Socialist Party candidate until May last year, when he was arrested in New York and accused of raping a hotel maid.
Strauss-Kahn told London's Guardian newspaper that his political opponents made sure the maid went to police to raise "a public scandal."
Criminal charges were later dropped due to concerns about the credibility of the maid, but she is continuing to pursue civil claims in New York.
Sarkozy said during a campaign speech in central France April 28 that Strauss-Kahn should "explain himself to the law and spare the French public his remarks."
The ex-IMF boss had been favored to win the presidential election as the Socialist Party candidate until May last year, when he was arrested in New York and accused of raping a hotel maid.
Strauss-Kahn told London's Guardian newspaper that his political opponents made sure the maid went to police to raise "a public scandal."
Criminal charges were later dropped due to concerns about the credibility of the maid, but she is continuing to pursue civil claims in New York.
