Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s sex scandal has captured the world’s attention and shocked his supporters back in France.
Strauss-Kahn is accused of attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment. The allegations are extremely serious and can carry a multi-year prison sentence in the United States.
Sex scandals among politicians, however, are hardly unprecedented.
Improper sexual behavior – if monogamy is the standard for propriety – has arguably always existed among rulers and politicians; they’ve only come to light in modern times because the media in certain Western countries have been willing to report them to the public.
If Strauss-Kahn is actually convicted and jailed, his misstep would be the second biggest sex scandal in the history of modern politics; he would not only lose his title as the IMF’s chief, but also kill his political career in France.
Before this scandal, Strauss-Kahn was the leading candidate for the 2012 French presidential elections, according to polls.
In 2007, a French journalist said Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her. In 2008, he was accused of having an affair with a married subordinate. He was able to brush off these two instances of alleged sexual impropriety.
10. Larry Craig
Craig, who served nearly two decades in the U.S. Senate, was arrested for lewd conduct in the men’s restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in 2007. A few months later, he pled guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.
He was accused of soliciting a male undercover police officer for sexual activity.
He initially said he would resign, but decided to finish his term, after which he declined to seek re-election.
He was accused of soliciting a male undercover police officer for sexual activity.
He initially said he would resign, but decided to finish his term, after which he declined to seek re-election.
9. Jim McGreevey
While governor of New Jersey, McGreevey had a homosexual affair with Golan Cipel, a veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces and the New Jersey homeland security adviser.
Even before the affair surfaced, many questioned Cipel’s appointment to the New Jersey homeland security adviser position by McGreevey, citing his lack of relevant experience and Israeli citizenship.
McGreevey subsequently declared his homosexuality and resigned.
Even before the affair surfaced, many questioned Cipel’s appointment to the New Jersey homeland security adviser position by McGreevey, citing his lack of relevant experience and Israeli citizenship.
McGreevey subsequently declared his homosexuality and resigned.
8. Silvio Berlusconi
Berlusconi has been accused of sexual impropriety for several years by multiple sources, including his wife Veronica Lairo (who has filed for separation from Berlusconi) and prostitutes who claimed Berlusconi employed their services.
The most serious accusation, which surfaced in 2010, was that he paid for the services of a 17-year-old prostitute and then abused his power to get her out of jail when she faced theft charges.
The most serious accusation, which surfaced in 2010, was that he paid for the services of a 17-year-old prostitute and then abused his power to get her out of jail when she faced theft charges.
7. Eliot Spitzer
Spitzer, while governor of New York in 2008, was exposed for patronizing a high-class escort service. He paid out at least $15,000 for their services on at least seven occasions. Moreover, he’s suspected of using campaign funds to book hotel rooms for his encounters with these escorts.
Spitzer subsequently resigned.
Spitzer subsequently resigned.
6. John Edwards
Edwards, US Senator, vice presidential nominee, and presidential candidate, was exposed, starting in 2007, for having an extramarital affair with a former campaign worker and fathering a child with her.
Edwards carried on his affair while his wife was dying from cancer. She died in December 2010.
Edwards carried on his affair while his wife was dying from cancer. She died in December 2010.
5. Iris Robinson
Robinson, a female Member of Parliament in Northern Ireland, was exposed in 2010 for having an affair with Kirk McCambley, who was 19-years-old at the time of the affair. She also raised funds for McCambley to bid for the tender of a restaurant owned by the Castelereagh Borough Council. Robinson sat on the council at the time but did not disclose her financial interest (i.e. loans) to McCambley.
Robinson resigned due to the scandal. Her husband, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, temporarily left his post for three weeks to fight allegations that he knew of his wife’s failure to disclose her financial relationships with McCambley. Robinson’s husband retained his post.
Robinson resigned due to the scandal. Her husband, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, temporarily left his post for three weeks to fight allegations that he knew of his wife’s failure to disclose her financial relationships with McCambley. Robinson’s husband retained his post.
4. John Profumo
In 1963, UK Secretary of State for War John Profumo was exposed for having an extramarital affair with a prostitute who was also involved with a Soviet spy and a street drug dealer. The scandal captured the attention of the British public for months.
Profumo subsequently resigned.
Profumo subsequently resigned.
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3. Dominique Strauss-Kahn
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2. Bill Clinton
Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinksy erupted during his second presidential term and at the height of his political career. She and Clinton allegedly had 9 sexual encounters from November 1995 to March 1997. Moreover, he was accused of denying the affair and with obstruction of justice.
Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. He was not convicted by the Senate and retained his presidential office.
Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. He was not convicted by the Senate and retained his presidential office.
1. Moshe Katsav
While Katsav was still President of Israel in 2006, evidence emerged that he had committed sex crimes with up to ten women, including committing the crime of rape.
His house was subsequently raided by the police and he faced calls for him to resign. In the months that followed, several previously unknown victims came out to accuse him of sex crimes.
Katsav refused to resign in 2006 and survived an impeachment in March 2007. In July 1 2007, he resigned two weeks before his term was set to expire.
He was then indicted on rape charges in March 2009, convicted in December 2010, and sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2011.
His house was subsequently raided by the police and he faced calls for him to resign. In the months that followed, several previously unknown victims came out to accuse him of sex crimes.
Katsav refused to resign in 2006 and survived an impeachment in March 2007. In July 1 2007, he resigned two weeks before his term was set to expire.
He was then indicted on rape charges in March 2009, convicted in December 2010, and sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2011.
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