WASHINGTON — Dominique Strauss-Kahn apologized to staff at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during a farewell visit to the Washington headquarters today, a witness told AFP.
After a New York judge dismissed all sex assault charges against the former IMF chief last week, Strauss-Kahn said he wanted to make a last visit to his one-time headquarters in Washington.
He told staff he had come to “apologize to those who have been hurt” by the scandal, and said he was sorry that the sensational case had a negative impact on the IMF, according to an employee at the meeting.
The French economist’s visit lasted just under two hours, witnesses said.
The employee described the atmosphere of the meeting as “very positive,” adding that about half the IMF staff was present and had applauded their former managing director, who was emotional.
Strauss-Kahn, 62, was accused of trying to rape a hotel maid in May and he resigned as head of the IMF after he was arrested and charged.
He was replaced in July by former French finance minister Christine Lagarde, who said Friday that Strauss-Kahn’s visit would be “a sort of reconciliation.”
“Dominique Strauss-Kahn asked to meet his former colleagues, and any staff members who wish to (see him), in order to simply say goodbye and to have, I suppose, a sort of reconciliation before leaving the United States,” she said on French television.
Strauss-Kahn became a free man last week when a New York judge approved a request by prosecutors to drop the case after they said they could not pursue the charges because of credibility problems with his accuser.